Resources

Current Projects

At the current time, program evaluation and research at the Maples focuses in three areas:

  1. Development, standardization and evaluation of the Bifrost program and Connect Parent Group at the Maples and with partners implementing this program in community;
  2. Collaboration in a multi-site program of research evaluating risk and protective factors related to conduct disorder, aggression and violence; and predictors of developmental trajectories for youth at high risk;
  3. Collaboration on the development of new major research initiatives with university and community partners.
  1. Bifrost Program and Connect Parent Group Expansion

    The Bifrost Program is based on research showing significant improvements in response to multi-systemic programs. Bifrost includes parent, family, and youth focused interventions that are tailored to meet individual needs and delivered within the youth’s home community. The program extends past developments in multi-systemic intervention by integrating program elements around the concept of sustaining attachment between caregivers, youth and their community. The integration of attachment elements into the program is based on extensive research demonstrating the significance of secure attachment in facilitating healthy adjustment in children and adolescents.

    The Connect Parent Group is a key component of the Bifrost Program. It is also based on research that shows that coercive interaction patterns between children and their parents increase child defiance, problem behaviours and increase risk of poor adjustment. The goal of ‘Connect’ is to promote effective parenting through the development of parental sensitivity and empathy and to decrease coercive interaction patterns.

    Connect introduces parents to attachment concepts over the course of 10-weeks in a structured psycho-educational format. Group leaders use role-plays and case examples to illustrate attachment issues that often underlie aggressive behaviour. A formal manual for group leaders was completed in April 2006 and group leaders receive training and supervision to ensure integrity in delivering the program.

    The publication of the manual enabled the first week-long training session in September 2006 for Connect Parent Group leaders in the greater BC community (i.e., outside the Maples). Six new Connect groups were initiated in October, in addition to the currently operating groups at Maples, Port Coquitlam (as part of the Youth Day Treatment Program), and Vancouver (in cooperation with Vancouver Coastal Health and Vancouver School Board). These new Connect groups have continued operating on a regular basis, most conducting their second and third cycles in the Spring and Summer of 2007 respectively. The Connect Leader training session was repeated in March 2007 and a third session scheduled for September 2007 will result in more than 50 leaders trained in BC.

    Status of Connect Parent Group Evaluation
    Program development and evaluation has progressed through several stages over the past two years using feedback from parents, youth, and community partners to refine and strengthen the program model, content, and implementation. Standardized data collection has focused on pre-post child and parent functioning, and quantitative and qualitative evaluation of program acceptability and perceived usefulness.

    The effectiveness of the Bifrost-based Connect program has been evaluated in three trials (Moretti, Holland, Moore, & McKay, 2004; Moretti, Obsuth, Holland, Braber, & Cross, 2006; Moretti & Peled, 2004; Obsuth, Moretti, Holland, Braber, & Cross, 2006). Briefly, two uncontrolled trials showed significant pre- to post-treatment reductions in parent reports of externalizing and internalizing problems in pre-adolescent and adolescent youth. A wait list control study revealed no significant changes over the wait list period, followed by significant pre- to post-treatment reductions in parent reports of youths’ internalizing and externalizing problems. Parents also reported significant improvements in their perceived parenting efficacy and parenting satisfaction. All improvements were maintained at 6-12 months post-treatment and further significant changes were observed, including significant reductions in youth reports of their internalizing and externalizing problems.

    With expansion of the Connect program to various sites throughout BC, led by trained and supervised leaders, significant gains have been made in acquiring program evaluation and satisfaction feedback from large numbers of participants. In the fall of 2006, an unpublished internal report based on seven community-based groups (Vancouver, Parksville, Kitimat, Abbotsford, Surrey, Terrace, and Kelowna) displayed extensive significant improvements in youth and caregiver functioning and attitudes following the Connect experience. Peer-reviewed publications summarizing this data and the significant findings are currently under preparation. In the spring of 2007, data collection for the second cycle of these community-based groups continued, and cyclical internal program evaluation and satisfaction reports (for each individual group, as well as summarizing all groups) are expected, along with coinciding publications by academic partners.

    Extension of the Connect Parent Group to a pre-adolescent population was evaluated by the Maples team in 2004 in collaboration with the Vancouver School Board and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Results showed significant post-group symptom reduction and high caregiver treatment acceptance and perceived usefulness. Results of this trial were summarized in an unpublished report. The Vancouver Connect Group continues to operate on a regular basis, 2-3 times per year, and actively participates in program evaluation and satisfaction feedback.

  2. Collaboration in Multi-Site Research on Risk and Protective Factors and Developmental Trajectories

    The Maples has been an active research partner in a five-year study of gender and aggression funded through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2002-2007). Dr. Moretti served as Principal Investigator on the research program that included researchers from across Canada and the United States. This research initiative worked in partnership with community agencies to study risk and protective factors and developmental course of aggressive and violent behaviour in girls and boys, making special note of sex differences in risk profiles and treatment needs.

    As a collaborative partner in this work, the Maples has been involved in active ongoing data collection, treatment development, and evaluation and knowledge transfer. As well, the Maples is strongly committed to supporting students in their clinical and research training.

  3. Collaboration on the Development of New Major Research Initiatives
    The Maples has participated in the development of several applications to launch new research and program development initiatives. As a leader in program development for youth at high risk, the Maples offers insight and guidance in clinical assessment, program development and knowledge transfer within the Province of British Columbia and beyond. The most recent project underway is to establish a multi-disciplinary team focused on understanding and reducing risk for psychopathology entitled “Transition to young adulthood in girls at risk for aggression and antisocial behaviour: Risk, resilience and developmental trajectories”.

    Grants Supporting this Research:

    Project Title: Aggressive and violent girls: Contributing factors, developmental course and intervention strategies.
    Principal Investigator: Moretti, M. M.
    Funding Source: CIHR New Emerging Research Team (2002-2007)
    Total Award: $1,231,992

    Project Title: Transition to young adulthood in girls at risk for aggression and antisocial behaviour: Risk, Resilience and developmental trajectories.
    Principal Investigator: Moretti, M. M.
    Funding Source: CIHR Operating Grant (2007-2011)
    Total Award: $957,951