Keeping the Mothers and Babies home‑visiting program available to new and expectant parents

Examining the role of implementation strategies in sustaining evidence-based interventions in home visiting

NIH-funded research Northwestern University · NIH-11126753

This project aims to help home‑visiting teams keep the Mothers and Babies program running so pregnant and parenting people can get continued support to prevent perinatal depression.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNorthwestern University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project IDNIH-11126753 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you are part of a home visiting program, the team will review program records to see whether Mothers and Babies is still offered after two years and how it's being used with both staff and clients. The researchers will talk with home visiting managers, staff, and parents in New Mexico and Rhode Island to hear whether training and supports helped keep the program working well. They will compare those interviews with administrative data on program delivery and fidelity to find which strategies are linked to lasting, high‑quality use. This project uses existing program data and interviews rather than testing a new clinical treatment for individuals.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant or parenting individuals enrolled in home visiting programs using Mothers and Babies in New Mexico or Rhode Island, as well as their home visitors and program managers.

Not a fit: People not enrolled in home visiting programs, those outside the participating states, or those seeking direct clinical treatment rather than program planning are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help more pregnant and parenting people keep access to a proven program that prevents perinatal depression by showing what helps programs continue delivering it.

How similar studies have performed: The Mothers and Babies program has shown effectiveness in preventing perinatal depression, but using implementation strategies to sustain the program over time is less well tested and this project addresses that gap.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, 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.