Connecting Families to Early Support for Children with Developmental Delays
Educational-Clinical Linkage to Improve Health Outcomes for Children with Developmental Delays and Disabilities
This project helps preschool children with developmental delays and disabilities in lower-resourced communities get the early education and therapy they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11123279 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many young children with developmental delays and disabilities struggle to access important early learning and therapy services that can help them grow and succeed later in life. This project introduces 'Preschool and Me' (PreM), a new program designed for pediatric clinics to better connect families to these vital services. PreM combines personalized care plans with remote support to make it easier for children to receive early childhood special education. We are testing PreM in real-world settings to see how well it works and how it can improve health and well-being for both children and their parents.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are preschool-age children (0-5 years old) with developmental delays or disabilities who live in lower-resourced communities and are seeking early educational and therapeutic supports.
Not a fit: Patients who are older than preschool age or do not have developmental delays or disabilities would not directly benefit from this specific program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve access to crucial early interventions for children, leading to better long-term academic, economic, and health outcomes, and also reduce stress for their parents.
How similar studies have performed: Pilot testing of the 'Preschool and Me' program has shown promising preliminary results in helping families complete evaluations for early childhood special education services.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah, Reshma — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Shah, Reshma
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 below.