Intervention to improve kindergarten readiness through parenting support

Evaluation of the Impact of the CenteringParenting Clinical Intervention on Kindergarten Readiness in Early Childhood

NA · Boston Medical Center · NCT03641092

This study tests a new parenting support program to see if it helps low-income families get their kids ready for kindergarten by improving how parents interact with their children.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment1200 (estimated)
AgesN/A to 3 Months
SexAll
SponsorBoston Medical Center (other)
Locations1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
Trial IDNCT03641092 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This intervention aims to enhance kindergarten readiness in low-income children by implementing the CenteringParenting model within group well-child visits. It focuses on fostering healthy parent-child interactions and providing educational resources to empower parents in supporting their child's development. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in improving parental behaviors and child developmental outcomes. By addressing disparities in early childhood experiences, the intervention seeks to create a supportive community for caregivers and reduce social isolation.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include female parents aged 18 and older with a child aged 0-3 months who are fluent in English or Spanish and attend one of the designated clinical sites.

Not a fit: Patients whose children were born prematurely (before 34 weeks gestation) or have chronic conditions affecting neurodevelopment may not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve school readiness and long-term developmental outcomes for low-income children.

How similar studies have performed: While the CenteringParenting intervention is a novel approach, similar group-based parenting interventions have shown promise in improving child development outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

For participating practice sites

* Practice provides care to patients who are covered by public insurance and/or uninsured (no minimum threshold: all insurance types eligible)
* Practices have at least 3,000 primary care visits per year

For parent-child dyad

* Index child age must be 0-3 months
* Parent must be female
* Parent must be 18 years of age and older
* Parent and child must attend one of the 10 study clinical sites
* Parental consent
* Parent must be fluent in English or Spanish

Exclusion Criteria:

For participating practice sites

* Does not accept public insurance

For parent-child dyad

* Child born prior to 34 weeks gestation
* Child with chronic conditions known to affect neurodevelopment
* Child with a positive screen on the Children with Special Healthcare Needs screener

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Parent-Child Relations, Parenting, Child Development, Child Behavior, School readiness, Child development, Child behavior, Parenting behavior

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.