Abstract

The Family Check-Up Online: A telehealth adaptation for rural families with a history of opioid use

Katherine Hails, PhD¹, Beth Stormshak, PhD² (1)University of Oregon Prevention Science Institute, (2)University of Oregon Prevention Science Institute

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

There is an urgent need for evidence-based, non-stigmatizing interventions to promote positive parenting skills in parents of young children who misuse opioids and other substances. The Family Check-Up (FCU) Online, a telehealth intervention developed to offer parenting support for caregivers with a history of substance misuse who live in rural areas, addresses this need. FCU Online was adapted from the FCU, a tailored, strengths-based intervention that uses motivational interviewing to support parenting skills. Fifteen years of research from randomized controlled trials of the FCU indicate its effectiveness in improving parenting skills for parents of young children and preventing the onset of substance use.

The FCU Online consists of a web-based app delivered via smartphone, paired with regular telehealth meetings with a family coach who provides tailored support to build on the skills modules addressed in the app. The FCU Online app was developed through an iterative approach involving focus groups with parents with a history of opioid use and community providers. It is currently being tested in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with mothers of children ages 1.5 to 5 years in rural Oregon, for which recruitment is ongoing. Our presentation will focus on how we adapted the FCU for use as a telehealth model with high acceptability and relevance to rural families with a history of substance use. Specifically, themes from focus groups that shaped the adaptation of the FCU Online app included difficulty accessing resources and need for flexibility in delivery of services. Our team faced challenges with recruiting parents for participation in the RCT, some of which were found to be related to the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., home visits typically delivered by providers from community partner agency to potential families were on hold) and others to barriers common to families living in rural areas (e.g., internet connectivity). We will discuss how these challenges were addressed, including expanding recruitment efforts to additional rural communities in Oregon and strengthening relationships with community-based partners. Finally, we will present preliminary data on intervention engagement and parenting and child outcomes.