Evaluation of the Healthy Families Alaska Program
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Child Abuse
- Sponsor
- Johns Hopkins University
- Enrollment
- 380
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Child Development
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 8 years ago
Overview
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.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •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
Exclusion Criteria
- •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.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Child Development
Time Frame: 24 months
Child cognitive, motor and psychosocial development
Child Abuse and Neglect
Time Frame: From child's birth (baseline) to 24 months of age
Substantiated and unsubstantiated reports of abuse; maternal self-report of harsh discipline
Secondary Outcomes
- Child Health(From child's birth (baseline) to 24 months of age)
- Maternal Psychosocial Functioning(At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age))
- Parenting Knowledge(At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age))
- Maternal Life Course(At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age))
- Parenting Attitudes(At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age))
- Parenting Behavior(At time of study follow-up (child 24 months of age))