A Study to Strengthen Families with Children Ages 3 to 11 Facing Adverse Childhood Experiences Using a Multi-Component Support Program

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying children aged 3 to 11 who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences ACEs to evaluate a multi-component intervention aimed at strengthening families and reducing toxic stress. The study is a randomized controlled trial including 340 families whose children have recently had a well-child visit. This research focuses on how pediatricians, community health workers, and parenting educators can work together to support families with ACEs and improve child health and resilience. The intervention group receives counseling from pediatric providers about ACEs, resilience, stress management, and healthy relationships, along with referrals to community health workers and parenting educators trained in an evidence-informed curriculum. Participants are divided into three groups children with ACEs receiving the intervention, children with ACEs receiving usual care, and children without ACEs receiving usual care. The study includes multiple follow-up evaluations at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the initial well-child visit. Participants undergo repeat evaluations to measure changes in biomarkers of toxic stress and psychosocial health using tools such as the Child Allostatic Load Index and the Pediatric Symptom Checklist. These assessments happen at baseline and at one year post-enrollment. The study also monitors associations between ACE scores and stress markers to assess the interventions impact on health outcomes and disparities. Participation involves several visits to evaluate child health and psychosocial status over the course of a year.

Building Resilient Families