The Development and Implementation of a Natural Helpers Program to Increase the Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement of Underserved Families in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Summary

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of a time-limited (i.e., 18 weeks) community health worker (CHW) intervention, referred to as the Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) plus natural helper (NH) model, on treatment engagement, retention, and child and caregiver outcomes.

Eligibility

Age range

2–12 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Standard Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

  PCIT is an evidence-based behavioral parenting intervention. It is administered as weekly, one-hour sessions with a bilingual PCIT therapist for 18 weeks in one of three PCIT clinics embedded within neighborhood community agencies or virtually.

• Behavioral
  Natural Helpers (NH)

  Natural helpers are lay people to whom others naturally turn for advice, emotional support, and tangible aid. Families received weekly sessions with a natural helpers in their home or virtually for 30-45 minutes for a maximum of 18 weeks. During sessions, natural helpers work with families to (1) explain parenting principles in a culturally and responsive manner; (2) support them in their skill acquisition; and (3) troubleshoot structural barriers to service and other basic life needs.

Locations (2)