Father-inclusive parenting program to boost early child development
Official title: Parental Well-Being and Child Development
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11552851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A family-focused program tests whether including fathers in responsive parenting support leads to better outcomes for young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $265,845 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD114947-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11552851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with children aged up to 6 years who are willing to participate with both parents or guardians.
✕Less likely to help
Families that are unable to engage both parents or who do not participate fully may see limited benefits.
What this research studies
This project from the University of Southern California will create and test MBF, a father-inclusive approach to promoting responsive caregiving within families with young children. The study will compare the effects of engaging both parents versus mothers alone on early child development outcomes over time. Researchers will use baseline surveys and behavioral measures to track parenting practices and child development, aiming to identify which actions most strongly drive lasting improvements. The trial will involve families in Los Angeles and will examine how partner involvement influences family wellbeing and parenting behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help more children reach their development milestones by strengthening caregiving across both parents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mother-focused interventions showed short-term gains; this study tests whether including fathers yields larger, longer-lasting effects.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lopez Garcia, Italo — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Lopez Garcia, Italo
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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.