Helping children affected by disasters and the pandemic stay mentally healthy
Pragmatic RCT of a multi-level mechanistically informed community intervention to prevent the onset of behavioral health symptoms among socioeconomically disadvantaged pandemic affected children
This project helps children from disadvantaged communities who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters to prevent mental health challenges.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11088783 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters have deeply impacted children's sense of safety and well-being, especially those from racial and ethnic minority groups in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Many existing programs focus on treating mental health issues after they arise and are often hard for these vulnerable children to access. This project aims to adapt and test a proven prevention program, called the Journey of H, specifically for children aged 0-11 years affected by these crises. Our goal is to provide accessible support to help children avoid developing serious mental and behavioral health problems before they become severe.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This program is designed for socioeconomically disadvantaged children aged 0-11 years who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.
Not a fit: Children who have not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters, or those not in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help children avoid developing serious mental and behavioral health problems after experiencing major stressful events like pandemics and natural disasters.
How similar studies have performed: This project adapts an existing, empirically supported prevention program, suggesting a foundation of prior success in similar contexts.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leytham-Powell, Tara — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Leytham-Powell, Tara
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.