Support for preschool children with developmental delays in schools

Educational-Clinical Linkage to Improve Health Equity for Children With Developmental Delays and Disabilities From Marginalized Communities

Not applicable Interventional University of Illinois at Chicago · NCT06145659

This study is testing a new program to help preschool kids with developmental delays get better access to school services and support.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment320 (estimated)
Ages36 Months and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Illinois at Chicago Academic / other
Locations1 site (Chicago, Illinois)
Trial IDNCT06145659 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study tests a community-clinical linkage model called Preschool and Me (PreM) to improve access to school-based services for preschool-aged children with developmental delays and disabilities. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the PreM intervention or be placed on a waitlist for 6 months before receiving the intervention. The study will follow 320 parent-child dyads over 12 months, collecting data at four time points to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention and its implementation. The goal is to address healthcare disparities among families with preschool children facing developmental challenges.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include parent-child dyads where the child is aged 3-5 years, diagnosed with a developmental delay or disability, and not currently receiving early childhood special education services.

Not a fit: Patients who are already receiving early childhood special education services or do not meet the age or diagnosis criteria may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly enhance access to essential educational and health services for children with developmental delays, improving their overall outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using community-clinical linkages to improve access to services, making this approach both relevant and potentially impactful.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Parent-child dyads who meet inclusion criteria will be enrolled.

Child inclusion criteria are:

1. Meets age requirements for early childhood special education (ECSE) services for Illinois (i.e., 3-5 years old);
2. diagnosed with a developmental delay or disability (DD) or determined to be at risk for DD (clinical concerns raised by primary care provider/healthcare provider or by parents at the time of enrollment);
3. is not receiving any ECSE services.

Exclusion Criteria:

if inclusion criteria is met, no other exclusion criteria will be applied.

Parent inclusion criteria are:

1. aged18 years or older;
2. lives in Chicago;
3. speaks English or Spanish;
4. a legal guardian of a child who meets inclusion criteria.

Where this trial is running

Chicago, Illinois

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 Developmental Delayprimary careimplementationlinkage
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.