Parenting Program for Trauma

((BPC) Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Vermont

Disqualifiers: Psychosis, Depression, Suicidal, Homicidal, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 10 weeks

240 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The PRESERVE \& CONNECT project is a multi-site randomized control trial of the Breakthrough Parenting Curriculum: Navigating Trauma Across Generations (BPC) in rural and racially and ethnically diverse communities in Vermont and Connecticut.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have active psychosis, you must be stabilized on medication to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Breakthrough Parenting Curriculum for trauma?

Research on similar parenting programs, like the Trauma-Focused Tuning in to Kids and Parenting-STAIR, shows that these treatments can improve parent-child relationships, parent mental health, and children's emotional and behavioral functioning after trauma. This suggests that parenting programs can be effective in addressing trauma-related issues. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Parenting Program for Trauma safe for participants?

The studies on similar parenting programs, like the Resource Parent Curriculum and SafeCare, suggest they are generally safe for participants. These programs focus on improving parenting skills and reducing stress without reported adverse effects. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How is the Breakthrough Parenting Curriculum treatment unique for trauma?

The Breakthrough Parenting Curriculum is unique because it focuses on trauma-informed parenting, aiming to improve parents' understanding and handling of children's trauma-related behaviors, which is different from other treatments that may not specifically address parenting strategies for trauma recovery. ^{3 4 5 10 11}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for parents involved in or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system due to issues like child abuse and trauma. It's not suitable for those currently experiencing unmanaged psychosis, major depression, suicidal thoughts, or homicidal ideation.

Inclusion Criteria

Parents involved in, or at risk of involvement in, the child welfare system.

Exclusion Criteria

I have psychosis that is not stable even with medication.

I am currently experiencing a major depressive episode.

Active suicidal ideation

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo the Breakthrough Parenting Curriculum (BPC) to improve child safety, permanency, and well-being, as well as adult well-being.

10 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for improvements in child safety, permanency, and well-being, as well as adult well-being.

up to 6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Breakthrough Parenting Curriculum

Trial Overview The study tests the Breakthrough Parenting Curriculum (BPC), designed to help parents navigate trauma across generations. It's a randomized control trial conducted in diverse communities within Vermont and Connecticut.

Participant Groups

Group I: BPC Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Treatment as usual Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Vermont

Lead Sponsor

Trials

283

Recruited

3,747,000+

University of Connecticut

Collaborator

Trials

194

Recruited

162,000+

Findings from Research

The Parenting-STAIR intervention, which combines skills training and narrative therapy, was delivered to 111 mothers in New York City, showing promising results in reducing maternal PTSD and improving parenting skills, with 70 mothers completing the treatment.

Statistically significant improvements were observed in maternal PTSD, depression, parenting stress, and child behaviors, indicating that Parenting-STAIR may be a feasible and effective approach for supporting mothers in the child welfare system.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of a Community-Based Intervention for Maternal PTSD and Parenting: Parenting-STAIR Pilot. Sullivan, KS., Ancharski, K., Wortham, W., et al.[2023]

Children who experience early trauma often face significant negative effects on their biological, emotional, social, and cognitive development, highlighting the need for effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Child-parent psychotherapy (CPP) is an evidence-based intervention that effectively reduces symptoms of traumatic stress in young children and helps restore their normal developmental progress, making it a valuable approach for mental health programs serving traumatized families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Giving voice to the unsayable: repairing the effects of trauma in infancy and early childhood. Lieberman, AF., Van Horn, P.[2018]

The SafeCare© model, an 18-session behavioral parenting program, showed small to medium improvements in positive parenting behaviors and reduced parenting stress among 288 caregivers compared to usual services, indicating its efficacy in enhancing parenting skills.

Despite the positive outcomes, SafeCare did not significantly reduce indicators of neglect, suggesting that while it can improve certain parenting practices, additional strategies may be needed to address neglectful behaviors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of the SafeCare© intervention on parenting outcomes among parents in child welfare systems: A cluster randomized trial. Whitaker, DJ., Self-Brown, S., Hayat, MJ., et al.[2021]

The SafeCare® Dad to Kids (Dad2K) program, designed for at-risk fathers, showed high acceptability and satisfaction among participants, indicating its feasibility for behavioral parent training.

While both intervention and comparison groups reported decreases in psychologically aggressive behaviors, the Dad2K program specifically led to significant improvements in targeted father-child interaction skills, highlighting its potential to enhance positive parenting practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Initial Findings from a Feasibility Trial Examining the SafeCare Dad to Kids Program with Marginalized Fathers. Self-Brown, S., Osborne, MC., Lai, BS., et al.[2019]

References

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

A systematic review of parenting interventions for traumatic brain injury: child and parent outcomes. [2022]

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

Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of a Community-Based Intervention for Maternal PTSD and Parenting: Parenting-STAIR Pilot. [2023]

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

Promoting trauma-informed parenting of children in out-of-home care: An effectiveness study of the resource parent curriculum. [2019]

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

Giving voice to the unsayable: repairing the effects of trauma in infancy and early childhood. [2018]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Trauma-Focused Tuning in to Kids: Evaluation in a Clinical Service. [2021]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Parenting Program for Resource Parents. [2023]

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

Effect of the SafeCare© intervention on parenting outcomes among parents in child welfare systems: A cluster randomized trial. [2021]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increasing Resource Parents' Sensitivity towards Child Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: a Descriptive Study on a Trauma-Informed Resource Parent Training. [2020]

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

Initial Findings from a Feasibility Trial Examining the SafeCare Dad to Kids Program with Marginalized Fathers. [2019]

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

A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE MANAGING YOUTH TRAUMA EFFECTIVELY PROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE-ABUSING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. [2018]

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

Editorial: Research in Real-World Settings: Challenging the Limits of Experimental Design. [2021]