Family Success Network for Preventing Parental Abuse

(CCFF Trial)

Recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Deborah J Moon, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Disqualifiers: History of child maltreatment

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

612 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Despite the known association between the quality of participant relational engagement with service providers and clinical outcomes, limited studies have examined caregiver Relational Responsiveness (RR) as a mechanism to achieve maltreatment prevention program outcomes. Using a realist-informed mixed method approach, this study will examine RR's role in mediating the effects of a community-based maltreatment prevention program, the Family Success Network (FSN) on protective factors against maltreatment and the contexts within which RR's mediation effects are activated or inhibited.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Family Success Network treatment for preventing parental abuse?

Research shows that programs like Parents Anonymous, which involve mutual support groups, help reduce child maltreatment by improving parenting skills and reducing risk factors. Additionally, interventions that focus on parent-child interactions and are delivered by professionals in home-based settings have been found to be effective in preventing child abuse. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Family Success Network safe for preventing parental abuse?

The Family Success Network is a pilot program aimed at preventing child maltreatment by addressing social factors like family coaching and financial education. There is no specific safety data available for this program, but it is designed to support families and improve their well-being. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How is the Family Success Network treatment different from other treatments for preventing parental abuse?

The Family Success Network treatment is unique because it focuses on empowering parents through a peer-led, community-based approach, similar to the Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities program, which increases access to effective parenting support. This approach contrasts with traditional methods by emphasizing community involvement and peer support rather than solely professional-led interventions. ^{4 11 12 13 14}

Research Team

Deborah J Moon, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adult primary caregivers living in the tri-county area with at least one child aged 0-17. Participants must report at least one risk factor for maltreatment and be receiving family coaching services from the Family Success Network at Tier II or higher.

Inclusion Criteria

I am an adult who takes care of someone and I live in the tri-county area.

I have a child who is 17 years old or younger.

Reporting at least one maltreatment risk factor at the time of intake

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive tailored preventive services through the Family Success Network for approximately 3 months

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in protective factors and relational responsiveness after service completion

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Family Success Network

Trial Overview The study investigates how caregiver engagement, specifically Relational Responsiveness (RR), affects outcomes of a maltreatment prevention program called Family Success Network. It aims to understand RR's role in fostering protective factors against abuse within families.

Participant Groups

Group I: Treatment group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Family Success Network is a multi-tier, multi-component community-based maltreatment prevention program that offers tailored preventive services for caregivers of children aged 0-18. Average lengths of service completion is approximately 3 months.

Group II: Waitlist Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Families in the Control Group will not receive any FSN services except concrete support of upto $500.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Case Western Reserve University

Collaborator

Trials

314

Recruited

236,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Ohio State University

Collaborator

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

Findings from Research

In a study of 595 children, those who underwent investigations for suspected child maltreatment did not show significant improvements in key risk factors like social support, family functioning, or child behavior by age 8, compared to those who were not investigated.

The findings suggest that Child Protection Services investigations may not effectively address or improve the underlying risk factors associated with child maltreatment, indicating a potential gap in secondary prevention efforts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Household, family, and child risk factors after an investigation for suspected child maltreatment: a missed opportunity for prevention. Campbell, KA., Cook, LJ., LaFleur, BJ., et al.[2021]

Participation in Parents Anonymous mutual support groups is associated with a reduction in child maltreatment, as evidenced by improvements in standardized outcomes measured at baseline, one month, and six months after joining.

Parents with more serious initial needs experienced statistically significant improvements across all measured scales, highlighting the effectiveness of these support groups in addressing critical risk factors and enhancing protective factors for child welfare.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preventing child abuse and neglect: a national evaluation of Parents Anonymous groups. Polinsky, ML., Pion-Berlin, L., Williams, S., et al.[2019]

Interventions for child maltreatment are most effective when they focus on improving parent-child interactions in home-based settings during early childhood.

Multicomponent programs that are delivered by professionals to enhance parenting skills yield stronger recovery outcomes, especially for families with higher-risk children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characteristics of evidence-based child maltreatment interventions. Thomlison, B.[2019]

The At Risk Parent Child Program is designed to prevent poor parenting and child abuse by coordinating community resources and providing multiple specialized services in a neutral location, such as an ambulatory pediatric clinic.

The program emphasizes early identification and assessment of at-risk families during prenatal and perinatal periods, utilizing both formal and informal screening methods to ensure that families receive tailored interventions based on their specific needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Families at risk of poor parenting: a model for service delivery, assessment, and intervention. Ayoub, C., Jacewitz, MM.[2019]

A brief and low-cost clinic-based education program significantly reduced parenting stress and improved parent-child interactions among 199 parents of infants and toddlers at risk for parenting problems.

The study found a dose-response relationship, meaning that the more parents attended the program, the greater their improvement in parenting skills, indicating the program's effectiveness across different groups, including those in residential drug treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a clinic-based parent education program to reduce the risk of infant and toddler maltreatment. Huebner, CE.[2019]

A family-based reporting system for adverse events in pediatric inpatients did not significantly increase the reporting rates by healthcare providers, indicating a disconnect between family and staff perceptions of safety events.

Out of 321 events reported by families, 48% were legitimate safety concerns, highlighting that families can provide valuable insights into patient safety that are often overlooked by healthcare staff.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identification by families of pediatric adverse events and near misses overlooked by health care providers. Daniels, JP., Hunc, K., Cochrane, DD., et al.[2022]

Adolescent patients and parents identified that their willingness to report adverse events in a pediatric hospital is influenced by their overall experience with the healthcare system, the quality of communication with providers, and their confidence in communicating effectively.

Participants expressed a desire for a user-friendly reporting system that ensures confidentiality and provides feedback, with preferred methods including face-to-face meetings, websites, smartphone apps, phone calls, and paper mail.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Barriers and Facilitators of Adverse Event Reporting by Adolescent Patients and Their Families. Sawhney, PN., Davis, LS., Daraiseh, NM., et al.[2021]

SafeCare is an evidence-based parenting program designed for at-risk and maltreating parents, focusing on improving behavioral skills to prevent child maltreatment.

The program emphasizes successful dissemination and implementation, with ongoing projects in states like Oklahoma and Kansas, highlighting its adaptability and relevance in various communities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Iterations of the SafeCare model: an evidence-based child maltreatment prevention program. Edwards, A., Lutzker, JR.[2008]

Patient Family Relations (PFR) programs effectively capture patient and family concerns in hospitals, revealing that the most common issues are related to care/treatment and communication.

There is a significant mismatch (around 80%) between the data collected by PFR programs and the AHRQ Common Format, highlighting the need for improved reporting systems to better analyze safety data in healthcare settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Towards Analytics of the Patient and Family Perspective: A Case Study and Recommendations for Data Capture of Safety and Quality Concerns. Couture, B., Fagan, M., Gershanik, E., et al.[2019]

The Family Success Network, a pilot program in Northeast Ohio, aims to prevent child maltreatment by addressing social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status and intergenerational trauma, through various support services.

The initiative includes family coaching, financial assistance, and parenting education, with the goal of improving family functioning and reducing the need for child protective services and foster care in economically disadvantaged areas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Determinants of Health and Child Maltreatment Prevention: The Family Success Network Pilot. Johnson-Motoyama, M., Moon, D., Rolock, N., et al.[2023]

The Triple P-Positive Parenting program demonstrates that enhancing parenting skills and family relationships can effectively address the public health issue of child maltreatment.

Making parenting programs accessible to all parents in the community is essential for successfully implementing a population-level strategy to reduce child maltreatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reducing Child Maltreatment by Making Parenting Programs Available to All Parents: A Case Example Using the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program. Pickering, JA., Sanders, MR.[2017]

A study involving 160 high-risk parents in Los Angeles County showed strong support for using social media to deliver the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program, which aims to reduce child maltreatment.

Surveys indicated that 78% of young, high-poverty, minority parents use the internet, suggesting that an online parenting program could significantly improve accessibility and engagement for these families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing Accessibility and Engagement in Evidence-Based Parenting Programs to Reduce Maltreatment: Conversations With Vulnerable Parents. Love, SM., Sanders, MR., Metzler, CW., et al.[2021]

The parent education program at the San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic effectively increased participants' knowledge about alternatives to physical punishment and normal child development, based on assessments from 40 parents who completed pre- and posttests.

Over 200 parents engaged with the program, which utilized a videotape series to facilitate group discussions, leading to positive changes in attitudes towards children's misbehavior.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A videotape parent education program for abusive parents. Golub, JS., Espinosa, M., Damon, L., et al.[2019]

The Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities (EPEC) program significantly increased the knowledge and confidence of 31 trained peer facilitators in delivering parenting support groups.

Parents who participated in the EPEC groups reported improvements in their children's behavior and reduced parenting stress, indicating that the program is both effective and well-received in socially disadvantaged communities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Innovations in Practice: Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities: A pilot evaluation of a peer-led parenting programme. Day, C., Michelson, D., Thomson, S., et al.[2020]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Household, family, and child risk factors after an investigation for suspected child maltreatment: a missed opportunity for prevention. [2021]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preventing child abuse and neglect: a national evaluation of Parents Anonymous groups. [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characteristics of evidence-based child maltreatment interventions. [2019]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Families at risk of poor parenting: a model for service delivery, assessment, and intervention. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a clinic-based parent education program to reduce the risk of infant and toddler maltreatment. [2019]

6. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Identification by families of pediatric adverse events and near misses overlooked by health care providers. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Barriers and Facilitators of Adverse Event Reporting by Adolescent Patients and Their Families. [2021]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Iterations of the SafeCare model: an evidence-based child maltreatment prevention program. [2008]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Towards Analytics of the Patient and Family Perspective: A Case Study and Recommendations for Data Capture of Safety and Quality Concerns. [2019]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Determinants of Health and Child Maltreatment Prevention: The Family Success Network Pilot. [2023]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reducing Child Maltreatment by Making Parenting Programs Available to All Parents: A Case Example Using the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program. [2017]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing Accessibility and Engagement in Evidence-Based Parenting Programs to Reduce Maltreatment: Conversations With Vulnerable Parents. [2021]

13. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A videotape parent education program for abusive parents. [2019]

14. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Innovations in Practice: Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities: A pilot evaluation of a peer-led parenting programme. [2020]