Improving parent-child relationships during pediatric visits to support young children's development
Enhancing Early Relational Health to Reduce Disparities in Child Health and Development: Addressing ACEs and Promoting PCEs through an Integrated Evidence-based Intervention in Pediatric Primary Care
This project brings relationship-focused support into pediatric visits to help young children from low-income families build school readiness and stronger emotional skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11386391 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child receives care at a participating pediatric clinic, this project offers brief, evidence-based support during routine visits to help parents strengthen their relationship with their child, organize the home environment, and boost responsive caregiving and learning activities. The team combines ways to reduce harms from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with actions that create positive childhood experiences (PCEs), using parent coaching, take-home materials, and referrals to community resources. Clinic staff deliver the intervention during well visits and provide follow-up supports as needed. Researchers will follow children's early learning, self-regulation, and family supports over time to see if these changes shrink gaps linked to poverty.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Families with children aged 0–11, especially those facing poverty or household stressors and who attend participating pediatric primary care clinics, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children older than 11, families not receiving care at participating clinics, or caregivers who cannot take part in brief clinic-based coaching may not experience benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help children from low-income families enter school better prepared socially and emotionally and reduce long-term health disparities.
How similar studies have performed: Clinic-based parenting programs have shown benefits for child development, but combining direct supports for both ACEs and PCEs within routine pediatric care is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Canfield, Caitlin Ford — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Canfield, Caitlin Ford
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.