Improving caregiver support for young children's mental health
Official title: Adapting and testing an adjunctive, digital single-session intervention to increase caregiver adoption of early childhood mental health preventive services
Funded at Northwestern University at Chicago · NIH-10843631 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating an easy-to-use online program to help parents and caregivers get the support they need for their young children who might be at risk for mental health issues, making it simpler for them to find and access the right care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $182,408 |
| NIH project number | 1P50MH132502-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10843631 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are caregivers of children aged 0-11 who have been identified as at risk for mental health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have caregivers actively involved in their mental health care or those outside the age range of 0-11 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the adoption of mental health preventive services for young children by developing a digital intervention that supports caregivers. It focuses on addressing the barriers caregivers face in seeking help after their children are identified as at risk for mental health issues. The approach involves creating an online single-session intervention that empowers caregivers by providing them with the necessary tools and resources to navigate mental health systems effectively. By centering on caregivers' needs and preferences, the research seeks to increase their willingness to access mental health care for their children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the mental health outcomes of young children by ensuring that more caregivers seek and utilize available mental health resources.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that online interventions can successfully increase caregiver engagement with mental health resources, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schleider, Jessica Lee — Northwestern University at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Schleider, Jessica Lee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How caregiver mental health affects recovery from severe malnutrition in young children
This project will track caregivers' depression and anxiety while their children get treatment for severe acute malnutrition to learn how caregiver mental health relates to child recovery and relapse.
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Support for Parents to Help Young Kids Access Mental Health Services
A single-session online program helps caregivers of toddlers get more connected to mental health services for their child.
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Caregiver mental health and recovery after severe childhood malnutrition
This project looks at whether depression and anxiety in caregivers are linked to how well young children recover and stay healthy after treatment for severe acute malnutrition in Burkina Faso.
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Helping caregivers get children into mental health care
A short virtual group program helps caregivers of children ages 0–11 who were referred for mental health services connect with and stick to care that fits their needs.
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Brief online support to help caregivers connect young children to early mental health care
A short web session to help parents and caregivers of young children feel more confident and follow through with recommended mental health care after a pediatric screening.
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Exploring how caregiver mental health affects children recovering from severe malnutrition
This study looks at how a caregiver's feelings, like depression and anxiety, can affect how well children recover from severe malnutrition, and it’s for families in Burkina Faso who are going through this treatment together.
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.