Digital dashboard to support family mental health in Rwanda
Official title: An mHealth Digital Dashboard for Quality Delivery of Evidence-based Interventions Promoting Family Mental Health and Functioning in Rwanda. A Hybrid Type III Study with Insights for the US
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11590764 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital dashboard is being developed and tested to help deliver a proven family-based mental-health program in Rwanda and share lessons that could help families in the US.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 2, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $64,525 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH136200-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11590764 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with young children in Rwanda, and program providers who deliver Sugira Muryango.
✕Less likely to help
Families in regions where the program is not implemented or where engagement is low may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a ready-to-deliver, trauma-informed family intervention called Sugira Muryango and couples it with a user-friendly Digital Dashboard to track delivery quality, reach, and referrals. Researchers will implement the program in Rwanda across regions, monitor outcomes like parental mental health and child development, and assess how feasible and acceptable the approach is for providers and families. The study design is a Hybrid Type III implementation-efficiency study, aiming to learn how best to scale while maintaining quality. Results will inform future adoption of the dashboard and intervention in diverse settings, including potential US adaptations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could experience better parenting, healthier child development, and more timely access to mental-health and social services.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials of Sugira Muryango showed improvements in parental mental health, child development, and reduced family violence.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Betancourt, Theresa Stichick — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Betancourt, Theresa Stichick
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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.