Preventing child maltreatment by supporting pregnant women and early childhood relationships
Official title: The unique and combined effects of prenatal and early childhood programming on child maltreatment: Examining mechanisms of change
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11374546 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A multi-site trial tests programs delivered during pregnancy and when children are ages 3–6 to reduce child maltreatment and promote healthier parent-child bonds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $625,272 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD114597-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374546 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include pregnant women experiencing IPV and families with children aged 3–6 years who are at risk for maltreatment.
✕Less likely to help
Families not experiencing IPV or not at risk for maltreatment may not experience direct benefit from these specific programs.
What this research studies
This study follows families from pregnancy through early childhood, using a three-arm randomized design to test two prevention programs and their combination. The Pregnant Moms’ Empowerment Program (PMEP) supports women exposed to intimate partner violence during pregnancy, while Reminiscing and Emotion Training (RET) helps families when the child is age 3–6. By comparing the programs alone and together, researchers aim to see if addressing IPV and strengthening maternal sensitivity lowers the risk of maltreatment and improves child development. The trial is conducted at multiple sites with active follow-up to monitor outcomes over time. Results could guide future prevention efforts and help families at risk identify effective supports.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the programs could reduce child maltreatment and improve long-term health and development for children and their mothers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous prevention work supports the idea that targeted parent programs can reduce maltreatment risk, but this study tests a novel combination of prenatal and early-childhood interventions.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller-Graff, Laura E. — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Miller-Graff, Laura E.
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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.