Parenting Intervention for Child Development

(RTG Trial)

Age: Any Age

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Columbia University

Disqualifiers: Male, Past third trimester, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

322 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This research project is a small-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an innovative program based in New York City called Room to Grow (RtG). Room to Grow's mission is to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. The research-informed program model combines tailored, one-on-one sessions with an expert clinical social worker in-person every three months plus ongoing communication (via phone and email), provision of essential baby items, and connections to vital community resources. The goal of Room to Grow's innovative program is to help parents increase the probability that their children will enter school ready to learn and continue on to meet their full potential in education, work, and citizenship. The therapeutic, psychodynamic approach and robust three-year long relationship with families is designed to act as the catalyst for sustainable, long-term change in parenting methods and family system stability. Critically, and in contrast to other programs aimed at improving parenting and child development, Room to Grow believes that providing concrete material assistance enhances the effectiveness of counseling and referrals to low-income families by reducing economic stress and freeing up scarce resources.

Research Team

Christopher Wimer, PhD

Principal Investigator

Senior Research Scientist at CPRC, School of Social Work

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for low-income women at least 16 years old who are in their third trimester of pregnancy (weeks 28-34) and have not yet given birth. Participants must meet Room to Grow's program criteria and be in need of services. Men, those unable to read/write English or Spanish, past the third trimester, or from mid to high income are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

In need of services

I am in my third trimester of pregnancy (weeks 28-34).

I am female.

Exclusion Criteria

I am male.

Mid to high income

Cannot read/write English and/or Spanish

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive Room to Grow services, including one-on-one sessions with a clinical social worker every three months and provision of essential baby items and equipment

3 years

In-person sessions every 3 months, ongoing communication via phone and email

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for long-term outcomes, including cognitive and socioemotional development of children

42-72 months after birth of child

In-person follow-up meetings

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Child Development
• Parenting

Trial Overview The trial tests an innovative program called Room to Grow (RtG), aimed at enhancing child development and parenting skills among families living in poverty. It involves one-on-one sessions with social workers every three months, continuous support via communication channels, provision of baby essentials, and access to community resources over a three-year period.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The treatment group will consist of 160 mothers who were randomly selected to receive Room to Grow services, which include three years of social and practical support for the mother and baby through a combination of one-on-one sessions with an expert clinical social worker in-person every three months and provision of essential baby items and equipment.

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

The control group will consist of 160 mothers who will not receive Room to Grow services.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Columbia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+