Comprehensive Early Childhood Parenting Supports and Children's Health and Development

Detailed Summary

This research project is a small-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an innovative program based in New York City called Room to Grow (RtG). Room to Grow's mission is to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. The research-informed program model combines tailored, one-on-one sessions with an expert clinical social worker in-person every three months plus ongoing communication (via phone and email), provision of essential baby items, and connections to vital community resources. The goal of Room to Grow's innovative program is to help parents increase the probability that their children will enter school ready to learn and continue on to meet their full potential in education, work, and citizenship. The therapeutic, psychodynamic approach and robust three-year long relationship with families is designed to act as the catalyst for sustainable, long-term change in parenting methods and family system stability. Critically, and in contrast to other programs aimed at improving parenting and child development, Room to Grow believes that providing concrete material assistance enhances the effectiveness of counseling and referrals to low-income families by reducing economic stress and freeing up scarce resources.

Study Details

Timeline

Interventions