Parenting for Tomorrow: A New Model for Supporting Preschool Children's Mental Health in Head Start

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18-99
SponsorJohns Hopkins University

About this trial

Purpose of this study is to test the preliminary efficacy, acceptability, accessibility, cost, and sustainability of an innovative mental health treatment model for young children from low-income, under-resourced communities through a partnership with Head Start programs in urban and rural communities in Maryland.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Child is 2-5 years old, enrolled in Baltimore City Head Start (Baltimore City Mayor's Office on Child & Family Success) or Head Start sites managed by Catholic Charities of MD

parent expresses concern about the child's behavior or need for parenting support

parent speaks English or Spanish

Parent age 18-99 years

Disqualifiers

Parent does not speak English or Spanish

Trial population

Parents (defined broadly to include a range of caregivers) of young children (2-5 years old) in Head Start programs in urban and rural communities in Maryland.

Trial design

Design model

Ecologic or community

Time perspective

Prospective

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Chicago Parent Program - individualized for families (CPPi)

    Behavioral

    CPPi is a 8-12 session individual- based parenting skills program

Treatment groups

160 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group
Group A: Parents enroll in Parenting for Tomorrow using Chicago Parent Program - individualized for families1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Change in Child Social - Emotional and Behavioral Wellbeing as assessed by the Strength & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

Strength \& Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a 25 item measure of children's emotional symptoms (5 items), conduct problems (5 items), hyperactivity/inattention (5 items), peer relationship problems (5 items) and prosocial behavior (5 items). A higher score on the SDQ's emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer relationship problems scales generally indicates more difficulties in those areas, while a lower score suggests fewer problems. Conversely, a higher score on the prosocial behavior scales indicates more positive social behaviors, while a lower score suggests more difficulties in this area. The score range for total difficulties is 0-40 and the score range for prosocial behavior is 0-10.

Time frame
Baseline, immediately after the intervention
2

Change in Child Anxiety as assessed by the Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS)

Preschool Anxiety Scale (PAS), a 28-item measure of young children's generalized, social, and separation anxieties; obsessive compulsive disorder, and physical injury fears. The score ranges from 0 - 112. Elevated scores on specific subscales may be indicative of potential concerns in those areas.

Time frame
Baseline, immediately after the intervention
3

Change in Child Social - Emotional and Behavioral Wellbeing in the Classroom as assessed by the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation (SCBE)

Head Start teacher ratings of children's social competence and behavior in the classroom using the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation (SCBE), a 30-item measure with 3 subscales measuring children's social competence, anger/aggression, and anxiety/withdrawal. The score ranges from 30-180. A higher score on the social competence subscale suggests that the child displays more positive social behaviors and skills. A higher score on the anger/aggression subscale suggests that the child exhibits more anger and aggressive behaviors. A higher score on the anxiety/withdrawal subscale suggests that the child experiences more anxiety and withdrawal behaviors.

Time frame
Baseline, immediately after the intervention
4

Change in parenting skills as assessed by the Parenting Questionnaire (PQ)

Parenting Questionnaire (PQ) is a validated 40-item measure of parents' use of positive discipline, harsh discipline, and consistency of discipline techniques. The score ranges from 40-200. There are 3 subscales of interest for the parenting questionnaire that include: (1) Warmth: higher scores = greater warmth; (2) Corporal Punishment: higher scores = greater use of corporal punishment, and (3) Following Through on Discipline: higher scores = more likely to follow through on discipline.

Time frame
Baseline, immediately after the intervention

Secondary outcomes

1

Change in parental mental health - anxiety as assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) is a 7-item screening measure of generalized anxiety. The score ranges from 0-21. A score of 0-4: indicates minimal anxiety, 5-9 indicates mild anxiety, 10-14 indicates moderate anxiety, and 15-21 indicates severe anxiety.

Time frame
Baseline, immediately after the intervention
2

Change in parental mental health - depressive symptoms as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-Depression Scale (PHQ-8)

Patient Health Questionnaire-Depression Scale (PHQ-8) is a brief measure of depressive symptoms in the general population. The score ranges 0-24. A score of 10 or greater is considered major depression, 20 or more is severe major depression.

Time frame
Baseline, immediately after the intervention

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Johns Hopkins University

Lead sponsor

Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation

Collaborator

Richman Foundation

Collaborator

Sherman Family Foundation

Collaborator

Blanket Fort Foundation

Collaborator

Wright Family Foundation

Collaborator

Abell Foundation

Collaborator

Baltimore Community Foundation

Collaborator