Evaluation of the Healthy Families Alaska Program
- Conditions
- Child Abuse
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Home Visiting
- Registration Number
- NCT00216710
- Lead Sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Brief Summary
This study will assess the effectiveness of early home visitation by a professional in preventing child maltreatment, promoting healthy family functioning, and promoting child health and development.
The investigators will test the following hypotheses regarding the effectiveness of early paraprofessional home visiting for at-risk families
* Actual home visiting services adhere to HFAK standards.
* HFAK promotes healthy family functioning, promotes child health and development, and prevents child abuse and neglect.
* Adherence to HFAK process standards is positively associated with achievement of outcomes.
- Detailed Description
Healthy Families Alaska (HFAK) is a well-established child abuse prevention program targeted to at-risk families. HFAK is based on the Healthy Families America initiative promoted by Prevent Child Abuse America. The State Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) administers the HFAK program.
In 1998, the Alaska State Legislature requested a controlled study of HFAK to determine its effectiveness in preventing child maltreatment, promoting healthy family functioning, and promoting child health and development. DHSS awarded the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine a contract to conduct the study from July 1999 through June 2004.
The study is a randomized trial of six HFAK sites throughout Alaska. It aims to compare services actually provided to HFAK standards, assess program success in achieving intended outcomes, and relate program impact to service delivery.
Families are enrolled over 21 months beginning in January 2000. Families are randomized to either the HFAk group or the control group. Baseline data on family attributes are collected from HFAK files and maternal interviews. HFAK service data are collected from the program's management information system, record reviews, surveys of staff, and staff focus groups. Outcome data are collected when the children were two years old through maternal interview, home-based observations, child developmental testing, review of medical records, and review of OCS child welfare records.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 380
- Family resides in a community served by one of six HFAK programs participating in the study
- Family identified as at-risk by HFAK staff following the usual HFAK protocol
- Family was previously enrolled in HFAK
- Mother unable to speak English well enough to complete study activities.
- Family unwilling to enroll in the HFAK program.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Home Visited Mothers Home Visiting Mothers randomized to the home visited group received AK State-funded home visiting services. Frequency of home visits was determined by home visiting staff based on mothers' needs. Mothers could receive home visiting services until their child turned 3 years old
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Child Development 24 months Child cognitive, motor and psychosocial development
Child Abuse and Neglect From child's birth (baseline) to 24 months of age Substantiated and unsubstantiated reports of abuse; maternal self-report of harsh discipline
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Child Health From child's birth (baseline) to 24 months of age Hospitalizations, ED use, injuries requiring medical care, adequate well child care, immunizations
Maternal Psychosocial Functioning At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age) Mental health, substance use, intimate partner violence
Parenting Knowledge At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age) Knowledge of child development; recognition of child delay
Maternal Life Course At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age) Educational attainment, employment, social support, rapid repeat birth
Parenting Attitudes At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age) Use of corporal punishment, infant caregiving, expectations of children, empathy towards child's needs
Parenting Behavior At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age) Observational measures of parent/child interaction and quality of the home environment, use of corporal punishment, use of nonviolent discipline
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Johns Hopkins University
🇺🇸Anchorage, Alaska, United States