Support program to improve mental health of orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa
Official title: MISC-CBO: A cluster randomized control trial to improve the mental health of OVC in South Africa
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-11393517 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project trains community careworkers to use a year-long video-feedback caregiving program to help 7–11-year-old orphaned and vulnerable children in South Africa feel more emotionally secure and resilient.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $108,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH127060-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393517 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are 7–11-year-old orphaned and vulnerable children served by community-based organizations in South Africa.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside the 7–11 age range, those not served by participating community organizations, or those needing intensive clinical psychiatric care may not benefit directly from this program.
What this research studies
If your child is 7–11 and in an orphan or vulnerable-care program, community-based careworkers will get special training and video-feedback tools to strengthen how they connect with children. The program, called MISC-CBO, is delivered over a year using a manual and structured sessions focused on building attachment and social connection. The research randomly assigns community organizations to deliver MISC-CBO or usual services and follows children's mental health over time. Researchers also work with a local advisory board to track implementation costs and readiness so the program could be scaled up if it works.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce emotional and behavioral problems and strengthen resilience in children who experienced orphanhood or other vulnerabilities.
How similar studies have gone: A prior quasi-experimental feasibility trial of MISC-CBO in Sesotho-speaking children showed reductions in mental health problems, supporting this larger randomized test.
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.