B3: RISE Youth Qualitative Interview (ages 11-19)

Attachment b3: RISE Youth Qualitative assent and Interview

YOUTH QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW ASSENT

Hello,

My name is…… and I’m from Westat, a research company that is doing a study about specialized services being offered by a group working with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). I’d like to ask you some questions about your experiences with foster care services, your caseworker, and your caseworker’s agency.

I will take notes during our talk and I would also like to record our talk so I don’t miss anything you say. I will use the recording to fill in my notes later and I’ll destroy the recording when I know I’ve got everything noted down exactly as you said it. If at any time you want to say something that you do not want recorded please tell me and I will turn off the recorder for that piece. You can still participate even if you do not want to be recorded.

Some questions may make you feel uncomfortable. If any of the questions make you feel upset or sad, you can talk with your caseworker. You can also choose not to answer certain questions, and you can end our talk at any time. No one will get mad at you if you do not want to answer a question or decide to end our talk. Also, if you decide you do not want to talk with me or if we start talking and then you decide to end our talk you will still receive foster care services. This interview is expected to last approximately one hour.

I will keep the information you share private according to the extent permitted by law. That means that your name or anything that identifies you will not be in any reports we write. I do not have to tell anyone that you talked to me today or share with others any of the information that you tell me. But, if you tell me that someone has hurt you or that you want to hurt yourself or someone else, we will report this to the government agency that investigates these reports.

You will get a $15 gift card at the end of our talk today.

If you have any questions, you can ask me anytime while I’m here. After I leave,

If you have any questions about the study, please contact: Jaymie Lorthridge, Westat Study Contact 1-800-WESTAT1 (937-8281), x5871 [email protected]

For questions about your rights as a participant in this study, contact: The Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, (916) 326-3660.

Participation and Audiotaping Decisions

 Yes to interview and recording the interview. By checking this box, I am saying that I read or listened to someone read this form, that I understand what these documents say, that I agree to participate in this interview, and that I agree to have the interview recorded.

OR

 Yes to interview and no to recording. By checking this box, I am saying that I read or listened to someone read this form that I understand what these documents say, that I agree to participate in this interview, but I do not want the interview recorded.

OR

 No to participating in the interview. By checking this box, I am saying that I do not want to be interviewed.

________________________________ ___________________________

Participant Signature Participant Printed Name

___________________________________

Date

Witness Signature

In my judgment, the participant is voluntarily and knowingly agreeing to participate in this research study, and has received a copy of the Research Participant’s Bill of Rights.

______________________________ ____ ________________________

Signature of Witness to Assent Process Date Name of witness

OFFICE USE ONLY:

Child Evaluation ID______________________

____________________________________ _______________________________________

Study representative’s signature Date

Date of IRB approval of this assent: 

Expiration date of IRB approval of this assent:

YOUTH QUALITATIVE INTERVIEW ASSENT SCRIPT

GIVE THE YOUTH A COPY OF THE ASSENT FORM AND ENCOURAGE HIM/HER TO READ ALONG WITH YOU

Hello [insert youth name],

My name is…… and I’m from Westat, a research company that is doing a study about specialized services being offered by a group working with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). I’d like to ask you some questions about your experiences with foster care services, your caseworker, and your caseworker’s agency.

I will take notes during our talk and I would also like to record our talk so I don’t miss anything you say. I will use the recording to fill in my notes later and I’ll destroy the recording when I know I’ve got everything noted down exactly as you said it. If at any time you want to say something that you do not want recorded please tell me and I will turn off the recorder for that piece. You can still participate even if you do not want to be recorded. This interview is expected to last approximately one hour.

BEFORE I GO ON, LET ME MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M TELLING YOU. BASED ON WHAT I’VE SAID SO FAR…

1. WHAT DO YOU THINK I’LL BE ASKING YOU ABOUT TODAY?

CORRECT ANSWER: FOSTER CARE SERVICES/CASEWORKER/CASEWORKER’S AGENCY

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1^ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2^ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3^RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

2. IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME WITHOUT THE RECORDER ON IS THAT OKAY?

CORRECT ANSWER: YES

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1^ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2^ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3^RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

3. DOES THE RECORDER HAVE TO BE ON THE WHOLE TIME WE TALK?

CORRECT ANSWER: NO

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

4. IF YOU ALLOW ME TO RECORD OUR TALK WHEN WILL I DESTROY THE RECORDING?

CORRECT ANSWER: AFTER YOU FINISH YOUR NOTES

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1^ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2^ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3^RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

Ok that’s good. Is it ok if we keep going?

Some questions may make you feel uncomfortable. If any of the questions make you feel upset or sad, you can talk with your caseworker. You can also choose not to answer certain questions, and you can end our talk at any time. No one will get mad at you if you do not want to answer a question or decide to end our talk. Also, if you decide you do not want to talk with me or if we start talking and then you decide to end our talk you will still receive foster care services.

AGAIN I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I’M TELLING YOU. BASED ON WHAT I’VE SAID SO FAR…

5. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO ANSWER A QUESTION DO YOU HAVE TO ANSWER IT?

CORRECT ANSWER: NO

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1^ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2^ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3^RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

6. DO YOU HAVE TO TALK TO ME TODAY?

CORRECT ANSWER: NO

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1^ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2^ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3^RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

7. IF YOU DO NOT TALK TO ME TODAY OR IF YOU DO NOT ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS WILL YOUR FOSTER CARE SERVICES STOP?

CORRECT ANSWER: NO

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1^ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2^ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3^RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

Ok thank you, can we keep going?

I will keep the information you share private according to the extent permitted by law. That means that your name or anything that identifies you will not be in any reports we write. I do not have to tell anyone that you talked to me today or share with others any of the information that you tell me. But, if you tell me that someone has hurt you or that you want to hurt yourself or someone else, we will report this to the government agency that investigates these reports.

You will get a $15 gift card at the end of our talk today.

JUST SO I’M ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I SAID…

OTHER THAN IN CASES WHERE YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE IN DANGER, WILL I KEEP YOUR INFORMATION PRIVATE?

CORRECT ANSWER: YES

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1^ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2^ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3^RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

8. WILL YOU GET ANYTHING FOR TALKING WITH ME TODAY?

CORRECT ANSWER: YES

RESPONDENT GAVE THE CORRECT ANSWER AFTER:

1^ST ATTEMPT (NO REPEAT NEEDED) ☐

2^ND ATTEMPT (REPEAT OF INFORMATION NEEDED) ☐

3^RD ATTEMPT (WITH PARAPHRASING/ALTERNATE LANGUAGE) ☐

4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ☐

Do you have any questions about anything I just said?

IF “4^TH ATTEMPT INDICATES LACK OF UNDERSTANDING,” IS SELECTED ONE OR MORE TIMES TELL THE YOUTH:

Thank you. Now, I’m going to check my records to see what questions you will be asked or if you will be asked any questions at all.

According to my records, you do not have to answer any more questions. But I really appreciate that you took the time to help us.

IF THE YOUTH HAS ANSWERED ALL QUESTIONS CORRECTLY WITHIN THREE ATTEMPTS CONTINUE WITH QUESTIONS BELOW.

1. Are you okay with talking to me today?

[If Yes] Thank you.

PROCEED TO QUESTION #2

[If No] Okay, I understand you do not want to talk with me today. Is there a better time to talk with you?

[If No] Thank you.

DIRECT PARTICIPANT TO CHECK THE NO BOX ON A COPY OF THE ASSENT FORM

[If YES] When would you like to talk again?

2. Is it okay if I record our talk? Please remember that you can still participate even if you do not want our talk recorded.

[If Yes] Thank you. This will really help me to not miss anything you say.

[If No] Okay, I will not record our talk.

DIRECT PARTICIPANT TO CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOXES ON A COPY OF THE ASSENT FORM

 Yes to interview and recording - . By checking this box, I am saying that I read or listened to someone read this form, that I understand what these documents say, that I agree to participate in this interview, and that I agree to have the interview recorded.

OR

 Yes to interview and no to recording. By checking this box, I am saying that I read or listened to someone read this form that I understand what these documents say, that I agree to participate in this interview, but I do not want the interview recorded.

OR

 No to participating in the interview. By checking this box, I am saying that I do not want to be interviewed.

IF PARTICIPANT ASSENTED DIRECT PARTICIPANT TO SIGN THE ASSENT FORM

________________________________ ___________________________

Participant Signature Participant Printed Name

___________________________________

Date

IF PARTICIPANT ASSENTED SIGN THE ASSENT FORM AS A WITNESS

Witness Signature

In my judgment, the participant is voluntarily and knowingly agreeing to participate in this research study, and has received a copy of the Research Participant’s Bill of Rights.

________________________ ____ ________________________

Signature of Witness to Assent Process Date Name of Witness

Date of IRB approval of this assent script: 

Expiration date of IRB approval of this assent script:

Intervention Group Protocol

Youth Experiences with and Perceptions about the RISE Program

Interviewer note: Read the Youth Qualitative Interview Assent Script.

1. EARLY RISE KNOWLEDGE

Let’s start the discussion with your introduction to RISE.

• Can you tell me about how you came to participate in RISE?

  • If not mentioned, probe - Who first told you about RISE?

• What did [insert name from above] tell you about RISE?

• How did you feel when you first heard that [insert name from above] thought this program would be helpful to you?

  • If needed, probe - Did you feel worried, scared, happy, hopeful, excited, or something else?

• What did you think the RISE program would be like?

2. PARTICIPATION IN RISE

• Once you heard about RISE, what made you decide to participate?

  • If not mentioned, probe - Did you feel the program would be helpful?

  • If so, probe - How did you think the program would be helpful?

  • If child states something like, “My attorney told me it would be good for me,” probe - Was there any other reason you wanted to participate?

• Let’s talk about what your experience has been like in the RISE program

  • Is there anything that you especially like about the program?

    • If like, probe – Tell me why you especially like that.

  • Is there anything that you especially dislike about the program?

    • If dislike, probe – Tell me about that.

  • How do you think the program could be better? Did you feel that the staff who worked with you protected your privacy?

• If needed, probe - Did they keep information about you private?

• What person from the RISE program has helped you the most?

  • If needed, probe – Your CCT facilitator, a counselor?

  • If not mentioned, probe – How did that person help you?

• Compare how you feel now about RISE with how you felt when you first started. Have your feelings changed in any way?

  • How did they change?

  • If not mentioned, probe - When did your feelings change?

  • What happened to make your feelings change?

• What is the biggest change in your life that you have experienced while participating in RISE?

  • If needed, probe – How did the RISE program play a role in that?

• How would you describe the level of adult support in your life after participating in RISE?

  • If needed, probe - Where (from whom) has that support increased?  How are adults expressing that support for you?”

• Looking back, is there anything anyone from the RISE program could have done differently to explain the program better?

• Is there anything the RISE program or anyone from the program could have done differently to help you better overall?

  • If not mentioned, probe –

    • How do you think being [use youth’s sexual orientation and gender identity term(s)] affected your experience working with the program?

    • If you identified as [list LGBTQ identities that participant does not identify with], how do you think your experience would have been different?

    • How do you think your current placement, that is [note whether they are currently at a specific residential facility, in foster home, etc.], affected your experience with the program?

    • What other things do you think affected how well the program worked or didn’t work for you?

3. RECENT CHANGES AT FOSTER CARE AGENCY

Now I want to ask you some questions about your experiences in foster care. Please keep in mind that I do not expect you to discuss personal details about your DCFS case. I want to know about mostly about your experiences with the person at your foster care agency who handles things that come up with you; usually this person is called a social worker or a case manager. Do you know the name of your current social worker or case manager?

• If yes, use that name for section III-V.

• In the past few months have you noticed anything different about your caseworker’s agency or the room where you meet with him/her?

  • If yes, probe – What’s been different?

  • Have you noticed any posters, like a Brave Space poster, or signs?

  • How do you feel about these changes?

• In the past few months have your talks with [social worker or case manager] started feeling different to you?

  • If yes, probe – How would you describe the difference now?

  • What do you think about this change? Was this a good change or a bad change?

• Could you tell me about your relationship with [social worker or case manager]?

  • If needed, probe – How do you feel about [social worker or case manager]? How do you think [social worker or your case manager] feels about you?

• In the past few months has your relationship with your [social worker or case manager] changed at all?

4. COMFORT LEVEL IN DISCUSSING SENSITIVE TOPICS

Now I would like to learn more about the talks you have with [social worker or case manager]. As you mature you may talk with different people in your life about the changes that are happening to you, such as changes in your body. Or you may experience changes in the way you see yourself or how others see you, such as how you see yourself as a (girl/boy, young woman/young man).

• Have you ever had a talk with [social worker or case manager] or another staff person at [insert agency name] about your gender or gender identity, that is, about how you see yourself as a (girl/boy, young woman/young man)?

  • If yes, probe – Who did you talk with about this? Do you remember when that talk took place? How easy or comfortable was it talking with him or her about how you feel about as a (boy/girl, young man/young woman)? Have you had any additional conversations about it (is this a regular topic of discussion?)

  • If no, probe - Is there any reason why you haven’t talked with him or her about your gender identity, that is how you feel as a (girl/boy, young woman/young man)?

    1. If worker perceived as non-receptive or negative, probe further - Is there anything that [foster care agency staff member] could do to make it easier for you to talk to him or her?

    2. Do you think it would make a difference for your experiences in foster care if you could talk to [foster care agency staff member] about these things? If yes, probe—what might be different then?

• Have you ever talked with [foster care staff member] about things like your feelings towards someone that you like as more than a friend? Or have you talked with [foster care staff member] about a person that you might want to date or be close to by hugging or kissing?

  • If yes, probe - Do you remember when this talk took place? What was that talk like? How easy or comfortable was it talking with him or her about those things? Have you talked any more about it (is this a regular topic of discussion?) Did your being identified as [use term youth uses for their LGBTQ identity] come up in the conversation? If yes, what was it like discussing this?

  • If no, probe - Is there any reason why you haven’t talked with him or her about the people you like as more than friends or about dating?

    1. If worker perceived as non-receptive or negative, probe further - Is there anything that [foster care agency staff member] could do to make it easier for you to talk to him or her?

    2. Do you think it would make a difference for your experiences in foster care if you could talk to [foster care agency staff member] about these things? If yes, probe—what might be different then?

• We have talked about a lot of things today. Is there anything else that you think would be important for us to know about your time in the RISE program?

5. CLOSING

   • Thank you for talking with me today. Before we go I’d like to ask you one more question. It’s on a different topic that I’m always trying to learn more about - music. Do you have a favorite singer?

     • If yes, probe – Why do you like [insert singer]? When did you first hear [insert singer]? Does he or she have one particular song that’s way better than his or her others?

Well thank you again for talking with me and letting me know about some new music I might try.

Comparison Group Protocol

Youth Experiences with Foster Care Services

1. RECENT CHANGES AT FOSTER CARE AGENCY

Now I want to ask you some questions about your experiences in foster care. Please keep in mind that I do not expect you to discuss personal details about your DCFS case. I want to know about mostly about your experiences with the person at your foster care agency who handles things that come up with you; usually this person is called a social worker or a case manager. Do you know the name of your current social worker or case manager?

• If yes, use that name for section II.

• In the past few months have you noticed anything different about your caseworker’s agency or the room where you meet with him/her?

  • If yes, probe – What’s been different?

  • Have you noticed any posters, like a Brave Space poster, or signs?

  • How do you feel about these changes?

• In the past few months have your talks with [social worker or case manager] started feeling different to you?

  • If yes, probe – How would you describe the difference now?

  • What do you think about this change? Was this a good change or a bad change?

• Could you tell me about your relationship with [social worker or case manager]?

  • If needed, probe – How do you feel about [social worker or case manager]? How do you think [social worker or your case manager] feels about you?

• In the past few months has your relationship with your [social worker or case manager] changed at all?

2. COMFORT LEVEL IN DISCUSSING SENSITIVE TOPICS

Now I would like to learn more about the talks you have with [social worker or case manager]. As you mature you may talk with different people in your life about the changes that are happening to you, such as changes in your body. Or you may experience changes in the way you see yourself or how others see you, such as how you see yourself as a (girl/boy, young woman/young man).

• Have you ever had a talk with [social worker or case manager] or another staff person at [insert agency name] about your gender or gender identity, that is, about how you see yourself as a (girl/boy, young woman/young man)?

  • If yes, probe – Who did you talk with about this? Do you remember when that talk took place? How easy or comfortable was it talking with him or her about how you feel about as a (boy/girl, young man/young woman)? Have you had any additional conversations about it (is this a regular topic of discussion?)

  • If no, probe - Is there any reason why you haven’t talked with him or her about your gender identity, that is how you feel as a (girl/boy, young woman/young man)?

    1. If worker perceived as non-receptive or negative, probe further - Is there anything that [foster care agency staff member] could do to make it easier for you to talk to him or her?

    2. Do you think it would make a difference for your experiences in foster care if you could talk to [foster care agency staff member] about these things? If yes, probe—what might be different then?

• Have you ever talked with [foster care staff member] about things like your feelings towards someone that you like as more than a friend? Or have you talked with [foster care staff member] about a person that you might want to date or be close to by hugging or kissing?

  • If yes, probe - Do you remember when this talk took place? What was that talk like? How easy or comfortable was it talking with him or her about those things? Have you talked any more about it (is this a regular topic of discussion?) Did your being identified as [use term youth uses for their LGBTQ identity] come up in the conversation? If yes, what was it like discussing this?

  • If no, probe - Is there any reason why you haven’t talked with him or her about the people you like as more than friends or about dating?

    1. If worker perceived as non-receptive or negative, probe further - Is there anything that [foster care agency staff member] could do to make it easier for you to talk to him or her?

    2. Do you think it would make a difference for your experiences in foster care if you could talk to [foster care agency staff member] about these things? If yes, probe—what might be different then?

• We have talked about a lot of things today. Is there anything else that you think would be important for us to know about your time in the RISE program?

3. CLOSING

   • Thank you for talking with me today. Before we go I’d like to ask you one more question. It’s on a different topic that I’m always trying to learn more about - music. Do you have a favorite singer?

     • If yes, probe – Why do you like [insert singer]? When did you first hear [insert singer]? Does he or she have one particular song that’s way better than his or her others?

Well thank you again for talking with me and letting me know about some new music I might try.

_____________________________________________________________________________________The collection of information described in this assent is voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 0970-0408 and it expires XX/XX/XXXX.

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