Improving caregiver engagement to prevent child maltreatment.

CE23-003 - Caregiver Relational Responsiveness (RR): An Understudied Fidelity Construct as a Mechanism to Increase Protective Factors Against Maltreatment.

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10904599

This study is looking at how caregivers can better support programs that help prevent child abuse by being more responsive and engaged, and it’s designed for families involved in the Family Success Network to see if this approach makes a difference.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10904599 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how caregiver engagement, specifically through a concept called Relational Responsiveness (RR), can enhance the effectiveness of maltreatment prevention programs. By focusing on how caregivers respond and engage with interventions, the study aims to identify ways to strengthen protective factors against child maltreatment. The research will involve caregivers participating in the Family Success Network, a community-based program designed to support families at risk. Using a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), the study will assess the impact of RR on the success of these prevention efforts.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are caregivers involved in the Family Success Network who are seeking support to prevent child maltreatment.

Not a fit: Patients who have a history of substantiated maltreatment may not benefit directly from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective maltreatment prevention programs that better support at-risk families.

How similar studies have performed: While the focus on Relational Responsiveness is relatively novel, previous studies have shown that enhancing participant engagement can improve outcomes in similar intervention programs.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.