MISC-CBO: Helping children cope after caregiver loss with trained community workers
Official title: MISC-CBO: A cluster randomized control trial to improve the mental health of children affected by attachment disruption and loss
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-11552064 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A year-long program trains community careworkers to improve mental health for children who have lost a parent to illness or death.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $108,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH127060-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11552064 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 7–11 who have lost a parent to illness or death, and the NGO/CBO staff who care for them.
✕Less likely to help
Children not facing caregiver loss or those in settings without access to trained CBO staff may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a practical, caregiver-focused approach that trains NGO/CBO staff to use a structured video-feedback method to support children aged 7–11 who have lost a parent. The goal is to reduce mental health problems by strengthening caregiving and attachment through a manualized intervention delivered in community settings. It uses a cluster-randomized design to measure effectiveness across multiple sites and tracks changes over time. Participation could involve caregivers, program staff, and the children receiving support within real-world community programs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could become a scalable option for improving child mental health in communities facing caregiver loss.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier work in South Africa suggested reduced child mental health problems with MISC-CBO, supporting potential benefits in similar contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharp, Carla — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Sharp, Carla
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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.