Durham Connects for Preventing Child Abuse

Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen byKenneth Dodge, Ph.D.

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Travel: May be covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: N/A

Waitlist Available

Sponsor: Duke University

No Placebo Group

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the impact and mechanisms of the Durham Connects (DC) brief universal nurse home-visiting program to prevent child maltreatment and improve child well-being. It is the first-ever RCT of a home-visiting program that is designed to prevent child maltreatment in an entire community population. Evaluation of program impact will test three hypotheses: 1) Random assignment to the Durham Connects Program will be associated with lower rates of child maltreatment and emergency department maltreatment-related injuries, better pediatric care, better parental functioning, and better child well-being than assignment as control; 2) Intervention effect sizes will be larger for higher-risk groups; and 3) Community resource use and enhanced family functioning will mediate the positive impact of Durham Connects on outcomes.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for families with infants born in Durham County, NC hospitals between July 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. It aims to help prevent child maltreatment and improve child well-being. Families living outside of Durham County or with infants born before or after these dates cannot participate.

Exclusion Criteria

My child was not born between July 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010.

Treatment Details

The 'Durham Connects' program is being tested through a randomized controlled trial to see if it lowers the rates of child abuse and improves pediatric care, parental functioning, and overall child well-being compared to those who do not receive the intervention.

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Durham Connects Eligible GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

From July 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010, all even-birth-date residential births in Durham County, North Carolina were randomly assigned to receive the Durham Connects nurse home visiting program.

Group II: Control GroupActive Control1 Intervention

From July 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010, all odd-birth-date residential births in Durham County, North Carolina were randomly assigned to a control group condition. These families were assigned to receive services as usual and served as the randomized comparison group for evaluating Durham Connects program impact.