An Integrative Approach to Improve Child Outcomes Through Research-based Parent and Teacher Interventions

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Growth & Development

Treatments: Behavioral: PALS and; Behavioral: Control condition; Behavioral: BEECH

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03431545

HSC-MS-15-0841

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to learn whether a combination of two research-proven programs, a responsive caregiving parenting program and a teacher training program, will have an effect on infants' and toddlers' language, cognitive, social-emotional, and self-regulation skills. The interventions are designed to specifically target parent use of a responsive, stimulating caregiving style in the home in combination with teacher instructional practices and the use of a responsive interactive style in the classroom.

Enrollment: 260 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 5 to 35 months old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Given that the target population includes EHS agencies, low-income children speaking English and/or Spanish will be eligible for participation.
• In some cases, children with mild delays (e.g., receiving speech therapy services) can participate.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with significant developmental disabilities (e.g., intellectual disabilities, significant sensory impairments, and children diagnosed with moderately severe forms of Autism Spectrum Disorders) will not be consented for assessments as the interventions are not specialized to meet the needs of these children.
• Children primarily speaking a language other than Spanish or English will be excluded due to the fact that appropriate assessment procedures are lacking.
• In terms of exclusionary criteria for teachers, those that are participating in other research studies, or who have recently completed other similar studies, will not be recruited.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

260 participants in 2 patient groups

PALS and BEECH

Experimental group

Description:

Play and Learning Strategies (PALS) and Beginning Education: Early Childcare at Home (BEECH) include web-based parent and teacher training courses with remote coaching and in-person meetings that support the adults' developing a set of core behaviors that comprise a responsive interactive style including responses contingent to children's needs and interests with rich language input.

Treatment:

Behavioral: BEECH

Behavioral: PALS and

Control condition

Active Comparator group

Description:

Parents and teachers conduct business as usual in regards to care-giving in the school and at home.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control condition