A trauma-informed, family-centered, virtual home visiting program for young children: One-year outcomes

Mogil, C. Hajal, N., Aralis, H., Paley, B., Milburn, N. G., Barrera, W., Kiff, C., Beardslee, W., & Lester, P. (2022). A trauma-informed, family-centered, virtual home visiting program for young children: One-year outcomes. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 53, 964-979. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01181-y

This randomized controlled trial tested the effectiveness of an online version of the Families OverComing Under Stress-Early Childhood (FOCUS-EC) program for improving parent mental health and parent-child relationships in military families. FOCUS-EC facilitators conducted virtual “home visits” and provided education and skills training to families with young children (three- to six-years-old). Families were assigned randomly to either the FOCUS-EC intervention (n = 99) or the control condition (n = 100). Data were collected at multiple intervals – baseline, three-, six-, and 12-months post-intervention – on parent mental health (e.g., symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) and parent-child behaviors (e.g., sensitivity). Parents in the FOCUS-EC program, and especially mothers, demonstrated better mental health and parent-child interaction compared to the control group.

DOI