Examining Whether Project Support Works

Summary

This study will involve a randomized, controlled trial with two parallel groups, Project Support and a treatment as usual control group. Families with a child on the waitlist for trauma-focused services will be invited to participate. Participation involves completing a baseline assessment of family functioning and trauma characteristics. Participants will then be randomized to either Project Support or the treatment as usual control group. All participants will be invited to complete the post-test assessment 4-6 weeks after the baseline assessment, prior to beginning trauma-focused services.

Detailed Description

The proposed research addresses the dearth of brief, empirically-supported programs designed for caregivers to mitigate the adverse effects of child trauma. This project will examine the telehealth delivery of Project Support, a program that addresses parenting skills and behavior problems among children exposed to violence or maltreatment. Project Support uses didactic, tailored instruction to teach caregivers how to listen to and comfort their child. This study builds on prior research which has found that Project Support is feasible and acceptable for both treatment providers and families on the waitlist for trauma-focused services. This phase of the research will examine the preliminary efficacy of Project Support in a randomized controlled trial, evaluating the impact of this intervention on caregiver emotional support, parenting self-efficacy, and family distress, compared to treatment as usual.

Eligibility Criteria

Interventions