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Physically neglected youth are at increased risk of mental health problems, but there are few interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in reducing mental health symptoms for this vulnerable population. The Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) program, which consists of mentoring and skills groups, was developed for preadolescent youth in foster care. In a published randomized controlled trial with 156 youth, FHF demonstrated positive impacts on mental health functioning. The current study sought to determine whether FHF might be particularly effective in ameliorating the impact of neglectful family environments. Because it was not possible to isolate a neglected-only subgroup, as most children with physical neglect histories had experienced other types of maltreatment, we tested the hypothesis that intervention effects would be stronger among children with more severe physical neglect. Findings did not support this hypothesis, however, as severity of physical neglect did not significantly moderate the impact of the intervention on psychosocial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are among the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities. Individuals with FASD experience postnatal adversity (PA; i.e., child maltreatment or other potentially traumatic events) at exceedingly high rates. This adversity is connected to increased internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. The current systematic review aimed to synthesize the literature regarding the intersectionality of FASD/prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and postnatal adversity utilizing the developmental psychopathology (DP) framework. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards, systematic identification of studies through PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted. Primary data on PAE, postnatal adversity, individual functioning (biological, cognitive, and affective), external systems, and familial and cultural contexts were extracted. Furthermore, quality assessment information was extracted for all studies. Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, individuals with FASD experience a weighted mean of 4.44 adverse childhood experiences. Multifinality in developmental outcomes was evident, as FASD and postnatal exposure impact mental health, cognitive ability, and biological processes. Cultural context and familial settings contribute to risk and resilience factors. The quality assessment points to unique strengths and areas for improvement within the literature. Aligning with the DP framework, the intersection of FASD and postnatal adversity is complex and impacts various developmental processes. Systems and cultural context add to this complexity. Intervention development taking into consideration these multiple factors is necessary., (© 2024 Research Society on Alcohol.)