Parental Well-Being and Child Development
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11320886 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A family-focused program tests whether including fathers in parenting support helps young children develop better than programs that involve only mothers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $570,083 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD114947-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11320886 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with children aged 0-5 years, where both mothers and fathers or other parental caregivers are involved in daily caregiving.
✕Less likely to help
Families unable to participate in a two-parent or caregiver-inclusive program may not benefit as much.
What this research studies
This grant funds a program at the University of Southern California to test a father-inclusive parenting approach called MBF. Researchers will develop a responsive parenting intervention for both parents and compare it to mother-only strategies, looking at children’s early development over time. The study uses family-based activities, surveys, and behavioral measures to understand which parenting behaviors drive lasting improvements. Results could show how engaging both parents strengthens caregiving and child outcomes beyond what is achieved by focusing on mothers alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families may experience stronger child development outcomes and more stable family wellbeing through shared parenting responsibilities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous parenting programs focusing on mothers show short-term gains; this study explores whether involving fathers yields larger, longer-lasting effects.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lopez Garcia, Italo — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Lopez Garcia, Italo
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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.