Hope for Stronger Families: supporting family finances and parenting to help children's behavior in Uganda
Official title: Suubi(Hope)4StrongerFamilies: Addressing Child Behavioral Health by Strengthening Financial Stability and Parenting among Families in Uganda
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11503820 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project combines savings and economic support with group parenting help to improve children's behavior and family wellbeing in Uganda.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | April 25, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $297,842 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH128905-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11503820 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Ugandan families with children showing behavioral or emotional difficulties, especially in communities affected by poverty or HIV.
✕Less likely to help
Families living outside Uganda, households without children with behavior concerns, or those not connected to participating community programs are unlikely to be eligible or benefit.
What this research studies
As a caregiver in Uganda, this project offers ways to strengthen family finances (like savings and economic empowerment) alongside group-based parenting support delivered through local community organizations. It targets the stresses that worsen children's behavior, such as poverty, HIV, food insecurity, and stigma. The team will deliver these combined supports in community settings and track changes in children's disruptive behaviors and overall family functioning over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children may have fewer behavioral problems while families gain better financial stability and parenting skills.
How similar studies have gone: Related programs combining economic and parenting supports have shown promising benefits for child wellbeing in low-resource settings, but this combined approach for disruptive behavior in Ugandan children is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mckay, Mary Mckernan — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Mckay, Mary Mckernan
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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.