Early Intervention For Families Experiencing Homelessness: A Randomized Trial Comparing Two Parenting Programs

Florida International University144 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to compare the efficacy in delivering two evidence-based parenting programs to families and young children experiencing homelessness. Outcomes evaluated include feasibility, treatment completion, treatment satisfaction of delivery of interventions as well as child outcomes (e.g., behavior problems, trauma symptoms) and parenting outcomes (parenting stress and parenting skills).

The number of homeless families in the U.S. has increased since the 1980s to over half a million as of 2018. Most troubling, in 2013 (the most recent year for which census data is available) one in every 30 children in the U.S., or 2.5 million, experienced homelessness. In addition to having disproportionally higher rates of unmet health needs (e.g., acute health problems, trauma-related injuries), children experiencing homelessness have staggering mental health needs such that 78% suffer from at least one mental health issue (e.g., depression, behavior problems) along with academic/developmental delays. Given that over half of all homeless children in the US are under the age of 6, it is particularly important to investigate the effectiveness of evidence-based parenting programs within a homeless population. This study aims to compare the efficacy in delivering two evidence-based parenting programs to families and young children experiencing homelessness.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

144

Conditions

Behavior Problem Parenting

Interventions

Parent Child Interaction TherapyBEHAVIORAL

Parent-child Interaction therapy (PCIT; Eyberg and Robinson, 1982) s a manualized evidence-based behavioral parent training program that integrates social learning and attachment theories. Parents proceed through two distinct phases: Child-Directed Interaction (CDI) resembles traditional play therapy, and Parent-Directed Interaction (PDI) resembles clinical behavior therapy. During all sessions, the therapist coaches each parent in vivo in their use of the CDI and PDI skills with their child.

Child Parent PsychotherapyBEHAVIORAL

Child-parent psychotherapy (CPP; Lieberman et al., 2005) is a relationship-based treatment that integrates attachment, cognitive-behavioral, social-learning, and psychodynamic theories. CPP focuses on the child-parent relationship as a way to improve the child's adaptive functioning. Various treatment strategies are employed including a focus on safety, affect regulation, the joint construction of a trauma narrative, and engagement in developmentally appropriate activities.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 2 YearsMax age: 5 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Any child between the ages of 2 and 5 and his/her mother who is currently homeless and living in the Lotus House shelter. Exclusion Criteria: * Family is already involved in a parenting program or does not speak English or Spanish.

Locations (1)

Lotus House

Miami, Florida, United States