Scaling school-based mental health support for children in Uganda
Testing multi-level scale-up strategies to implement a school-based population approach of mental health preventive intervention
This project tries different ways to expand teacher training and school supports so more Ugandan children receive preventive mental health help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141845 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would see trained teachers using evidence-based classroom strategies and sharing prevention skills with parents through a program called ParentCorps. The project compares horizontal scale-up (spreading high-quality delivery across schools) and vertical scale-up (embedding the program into education policies and systems). Teachers are supported through task-shifting so some mental health supports come from teachers rather than specialists. Researchers will follow participating schools, teachers, parents, and children over time to track how well the program is delivered and how children’s mental health and behavior change.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children in early childhood and primary school in participating Ugandan schools, along with their teachers and parents, are the ideal candidates for participation.
Not a fit: Children who require intensive clinical or specialized psychiatric treatment are unlikely to get their full needs met by this universal school-based prevention program alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more children could get consistent, school-based prevention that reduces behavior problems and improves emotional and social skills at scale.
How similar studies have performed: Prior implementations of ParentCorps and related task-shifting school programs in Uganda and Nepal have shown positive effects, so this builds on promising prior results.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Keng-Yen — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Huang, Keng-Yen
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.