Program to improve parent-child relationships and children's health

Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH™) Program: Promoting Vulnerable Children's Health at Scale

Not applicable Interventional University of Calgary · NCT04853888

This study tests a program designed to help parents improve their relationships with their preschoolers to see if it can boost the children's health and development.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment300 (estimated)
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Calgary Academic / other
Locations1 site (Calgary, Alberta)
Trial IDNCT04853888 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The ATTACH™ program is a psycho-educational initiative aimed at enhancing the health and development of preschoolers affected by toxic stress through improved parent-child interactions. It focuses on increasing parents' reflective function, which is crucial for fostering secure attachments and positive child development outcomes. The program is evaluated using a pre/post-test quasi-experimental design, assessing both quantitative impacts on relationship quality and child development, as well as qualitative insights from healthcare professionals regarding implementation. The study also examines the feasibility of the program's delivery in community settings.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this program are parents with children aged between birth and 32 months who are willing to participate in the ATTACH™ program.

Not a fit: Parents who do not have children within the specified age range or are unable to commit to the program's requirements may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly enhance the quality of parent-child relationships and improve children's cognitive and motor development.

How similar studies have performed: Previous pilot studies have shown significant improvements in parent-child relationship quality and child development outcomes using similar approaches.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* parents with children between birth and 32 months of age (based on selection of age-appropriate tools for assessing children's health and development)
* parents agree to participate in the ATTACH™ program consisting of 10-12 weeks of one-hour per week parent training sessions
* parents agreed to bring a co-parent for 2-3 of the 10 sessions (when possible)
* parents agree to the dried blood sample collection from themselves and their children (in Calgary agencies)

Exclusion Criteria:

\-

Where this trial is running

Calgary, Alberta

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.
Conditions Parent-Child RelationsParent Child Interaction QualityParental Reflective FunctionChild Development
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.