Improving Parent-Child Relationships to Prevent Child Maltreatment

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement in Primary Care: Effectiveness Trial of a Primary Care Based Parenting Intervention to Prevent Child Maltreatment

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11146663

This project helps parents and children build stronger relationships in primary care settings to prevent child maltreatment.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11146663 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This effort focuses on strengthening parent-child relationships and teaching positive discipline techniques to prevent child maltreatment. It addresses how harsh parenting can lead to child behavioral problems and increased parental stress, creating a cycle of negative interactions. The program, called PriCARE/Cariño, is specifically designed to be delivered in primary care clinics, making it more accessible for families, especially those from low-income and minority backgrounds. By offering support in this familiar setting, the program aims to help parents learn new, effective ways to interact with their children and manage behavior, fostering a more positive and nurturing family environment.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This program is designed for parents who may be at risk of child maltreatment or who struggle with punitive parenting styles, along with their children aged 0-11 years.

Not a fit: Patients not experiencing challenges in parent-child relationships or those outside the target age range for children may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help families develop healthier relationships, reduce harsh parenting practices, and ultimately prevent child maltreatment.

How similar studies have performed: While other parenting programs exist, PriCARE/Cariño is distinct due to its development and adaptation for primary care settings and its focus on engaging low-income and minority parents.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, 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.