Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up Intervention

 

Our Therapy 101 series helps introduce various therapies, interventions, and treatments relevant to foster care and adoption issues.

 

Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up Intervention (ABC)

 

 

I can't remember how I initially came across this intervention, but I am SO excited about it's possibilities in the foster/adopt world.  Even better the studies and training are based out of University of Delaware which is not too far from me.  Ill be keeping my eyes out to see if there is ever an opportunity for me to go and learn more!

 

 

"The Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention was developed by Dr. Mary Dozier to help caregivers provide nurturing care and engage in synchronous interactions with their infants. Young children who have experienced early maltreatment and/or disruptions in care can often behave in ways that push caregivers away. ABC helps caregivers re-interpret children's behavioral signals so that they provide nurturance even when it is not elicited. Nurturance does not come naturally to many caregivers, but children who have experienced early adversity especially need nurturing care. Additionally, many children who have experienced early adversity are dysregulated behaviorally and biologically. ABC helps caregivers provide a responsive, predictable environment that enhances young children's behavioral and regulatory capabilities. Parent coaches encourage caregivers to follow their children’s lead with delight. 

 

Sessions are implemented by parent coaches who provide parenting training in the parent’s home for weekly one-hour sessions over a period of 10 weeks. Caregivers and the identified child (between ages 6 months and 2 years) must be at all sessions. Other family members, partners, and children are welcome to attend. Although session content is guided by a manual, the parent coach’s primary role is to provide ‘‘in the moment’’ feed back about the parent’s interactions with his or her child. Throughout all sessions, the parent coach observes the parent’s behavior and makes comments on behaviors that relate to the intervention targets. This frequent  “in the moment” feedback focuses attention on the target behaviors, which is expected to enhance the parent’s understanding of the content and support the parent in practicing the target behaviors. Along with “in the moment” comments, parent coaches provide video feedback to highlight parents’ strengths, challenge weaknesses, and celebrate changes in behaviors."

Check it out at:

http://www.infantcaregiverproject.com/#!