Paths to better therapy access for Black and Latino/a preschoolers with developmental delays
Pathways for Preschoolers: Examining Protective Factors and Health Disparities Among Black and Latino/a Children with Developmental Delays
This project will find what helps Black and Latino/a preschoolers with developmental delays get recommended clinic and school therapies and supports.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195104 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will work with families of preschool-age children with developmental delays in Chicago to learn how parent knowledge, school resources, insurance, and neighborhood features affect access to clinic- and school-based therapies. The team will collect information from parents, schools, and clinics and link those data with neighborhood measures like employment and transportation. They will identify protective, changeable factors that help children receive recommended care and that relate to child and family outcomes. The goal is to point to practical steps schools, clinics, and communities can take to reduce disparities in service access.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Black and Latino/a preschool-age children with developmental delays or disabilities and their caregivers, particularly those receiving or seeking services in the Chicago area.
Not a fit: Children without developmental delays, older school-age children, or families living far from the Chicago-area recruitment sites are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify specific, changeable ways to increase therapy access and improve developmental and mental health outcomes for children and families.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show that parental knowledge and service access affect child outcomes, but few have focused on Black and Latino/a preschoolers in urban settings, so this work builds on promising findings while addressing important gaps.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, UNITED STATES
- University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah, Reshma — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Shah, Reshma
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.