https://aub.ie/MilitaryREACH-Mogil2021

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.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01181-y

Children
Mental health
Parents
Programming

Multiple branches

Active Duty
Guard
Reserve
Veteran

Active duty service member
Guard/Reserve member
Military families
Parent of a service member or veteran
Spouse of service member or veteran

Preschool age (2 -5 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)

Longitudinal Study
Quantitative Study

Mogil, Catherine, Hajal, Nastassia, Aralis, Hilary, Paley, Blair, Milburn, Norweeta G., Barrera, Wendy, Kiff, Cara, Beardslee, William, Lester, Patricia

Military-connected families face many challenges associated with military life transitions, including deployment separations. We report on a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of Families OverComing Under Stress-Early Childhood (FOCUS-EC) delivered through an in-home, virtual telehealth platform. FOCUS-EC is a trauma-informed, family-centered preventive intervention designed to promote family resilience and well-being. Military-connected families with 3- to 6-year-old children (194 mothers; 155 fathers; 199 children) were randomized to FOCUS-EC or an online education condition. Parent psychological health symptoms, child behavior, parenting, and parent–child relationships were examined by parent-report and observed interaction tasks for up to 12 months. Longitudinal regression models indicated that FOCUS-EC families demonstrated significantly greater improvements than online education families in parent-reported and observational measures of child behavior, parenting practices, and parent–child interaction, as well as greater reductions in parent posttraumatic stress symptoms. Findings provide support for the benefit of a virtually-delivered preventive intervention for military-connected families.

Springer

Article
REACH Publication

Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, CM
Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, NH
Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, HA
Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, BP
Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, NGM
Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, WB
Private Practice, CK
Baer Prevention Initiatives, Boston Children’s Hospital, WB
Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, PL