Harnessing caregiver coaching in early intervention to help young children with developmental delays
Official title: Breaking barriers: Harnessing implementation mapping to promote caregiver coaching in early intervention
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11577694 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether coaching caregivers can help children under 3 with developmental delays get high-quality, frequent early intervention in their home environment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $420,014 |
| NIH project number | 7R21DC022857-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11577694 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families of children under 3 with developmental delays who receive Part C early intervention services and are willing to engage in caregiver coaching.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not participate in caregiver coaching or whose families face barriers to engagement may see no benefit.
What this research studies
For children with developmental delays, delivering strong early intervention in the family home is essential. The project explores how to implement coaching strategies for caregivers so they can support their child’s communication and development, aiming to increase the dosage and effectiveness of services. It will test practical methods to train therapists and families to use caregiver-mediated interventions in real-world Part C programs. The goal is to bridge the gap between proven coaching techniques and their consistent use in everyday care. Findings could inform how to scale caregiver coaching across early intervention settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could receive more effective, higher-quality caregiver coaching that supports their child’s communication and overall development at home.
How similar studies have gone: Previous meta-analyses indicate caregiver coaching can improve language and social communication, but real-world implementation remains inconsistent.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roberts, Megan Y — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Roberts, Megan Y
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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.