Methods and participants

We used a ‘randomized control design’ to evaluate the FFI, including two groups (FFI vs. Care as usual). Parenting stress was measured by the NOSI-R and the interaction between foster parents and foster children was coded by means of the Emotional Availability Scales (EAS). Cortisol levels were used as a measure of stress in the child. A total of 123 foster parent-foster child dyads participated in the study, who were recruited from various regions in the Netherlands. The first measurements took place 6-8 weeks after placement. Most children included in the sample were infants or toddlers.