Helping toddlers of caregivers with substance use disorders build language skills with group and individualized parenting supports
Evidence-based Intervention Enhancements to Reduce Language Delays and Disorders Among Children of Parents With Substance Use Disorders
NA · University of Oregon · NCT07529327
This project will test whether adding coaching and one-on-one lessons to a group parenting program helps toddlers (12–42 months) of caregivers with substance use disorders develop better language skills.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 244 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Oregon (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Eugene, Oregon) |
| Trial ID | NCT07529327 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will randomize 244 parent-child pairs into a 2x2 factorial design where everyone receives the Learn and Play Every Day group-based parent-implemented naturalistic communication intervention and some receive additional parental coaching, individualized lessons, both, or neither. The additional coaching and individualized lessons are delivered via telehealth, and randomization is stratified by the parent's primary language (English vs. Spanish). Recruitment occurs through community agencies serving adults with substance use disorders, and interventionists delivering different components are masked to the other components to limit bias. The team will measure child language outcomes, parent responsivity, and other related measures to compare the added benefit of the extra supports.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Caregivers aged 18 or older with a lifetime history of SUD treatment or active use in the past year who care for a child 12–42 months old with limited expressive vocabulary (under ~150 words and not regularly combining three or more words), who can speak English or Spanish and are willing to attend weekly in-person groups and any assigned Zoom sessions.
Not a fit: Children who are already combining three or more words regularly, have expressive vocabularies above the study threshold, or families unable to attend weekly group sessions or telehealth visits likely will not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined approach could reduce early language delays and boost vocabulary growth for young children of caregivers with substance use disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Parent-implemented naturalistic communication interventions have shown improvements in early language and vocabulary in prior research, though their specific deployment for children of caregivers with substance use disorders has been less studied.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Have a: 1. Self-reported lifetime history of substance use disorder treatment and/or 2. active substance use in the past year 2. Be providing care for/parenting a child at least 10% of the time who is: 1. between the ages of 12-42 months 2. English/Spanish bilingual or monolingual in English or Spanish 3. exposed to a third language once a week or less 4. not yet combining three or more words regularly 5. has less than 150 words in their expressive vocabulary 3. Be able to provide consent for their target child to participate, or have a legal guardian provide consent for the child to participate 4. Be able to speak and understand English and/or Spanish 5. Be willing to attend groups once a week for six weeks at a participating site/group time 6. If assigned additional services, willing to attend Zoom meetings 7. Be 18 years of age or older Exclusion Criteria: -Only one caregiver per focal child can participate in the research study. Caregivers whose participating child already has another caregiver enrolled in the research study will not be eligible to participate.
Where this trial is running
Eugene, Oregon
- Prevention Science Institute — Eugene, Oregon, United States (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Camille Cioffi — Prevention Science Institute
- Study coordinator: Stephanie De Anda, PhD, CCC-SLP
- Email: sdeanda@uoregon.edu
- Phone: 541-346-8530
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Language Delay, Substance Use Disorders, Language Disorders in Children, Language Development, Prevention Intervention, Naturalistic communication intervention, Parenting, Group based intervention