Empowering Parents of Critically Ill Children with a quick, family-focused support program
Official title: Empowering Parents of Critically Ill Children: A Multi-Site Evaluation of the EMPOWER-PICU Intervention
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11448796 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short, friendly program helps parents of kids in the PICU feel less stressed and anxious by using a brief, flexible cognitive-behavioral approach.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $803,946 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NR022612-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448796 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Parents or caregivers of children aged 0-21 who have recently been in a PICU and are experiencing distress.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who are unwilling or unable to participate in brief psychological interventions may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to help families of children who are in the PICU by delivering a concise, scalable mental-health intervention called EMPOWER-PICU. The intervention, adapted from a proven program for adults, is designed to be easy to use and can be offered across multiple sites. Researchers will compare EMPOWER-PICU to enhanced usual care to see if it reduces PTSD, anxiety, and depression in parents after their child’s PICU stay. The study builds on prior evidence showing that caregiver mental health affects family functioning and parenting, with the goal of improving outcomes for both parents and children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lessen parental distress after PICU stays and support healthier family dynamics.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results in adult ICU caregivers and early PICU work suggest the approach can reduce trauma-related symptoms, with positive signs of broader mental-health benefits.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Traube, Chani — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Traube, Chani
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Creating a support program for parents of critically ill children in the PICU
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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.