A program to help mothers increase physical activity through free childcare and community support
Official title: Free Time 4 Wellness
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11061320 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a program called Free Time for Wellness that helps moms in low-income neighborhoods get more active by offering fitness classes and free childcare, so they can exercise while their kids are taken care of.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $764,074 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD018609-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061320 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are mothers living in low-resourced communities who struggle to meet physical activity guidelines due to time constraints and lack of childcare.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have children or those who are not mothers may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a program called Free Time for Wellness (FT4W) aimed at increasing physical activity among mothers living in low-resourced communities. The program combines fitness classes with free childcare, allowing mothers to engage in physical activity while their children are cared for. By utilizing technology to connect and support mothers, the program seeks to address both individual and community-level barriers to physical activity. The effectiveness of this multilevel intervention will be evaluated to determine its impact on mothers' physical activity levels.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the physical health and well-being of mothers by providing them with the opportunity to engage in regular physical activity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that community-based interventions combining physical activity with support services can lead to meaningful improvements in health outcomes, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Houghton, Lauren C — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Houghton, Lauren C
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.