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Room to Grow Evaluation for Children
Sponsor: Columbia University
Summary
This research project is a small-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an innovative program based in New York City called Room to Grow (RtG). Room to Grow's mission is to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. The research-informed program model combines tailored, one-on-one sessions with an expert clinical social worker in-person every three months plus ongoing communication (via phone and email), provision of essential baby items, and connections to vital community resources. The goal of Room to Grow's innovative program is to help parents increase the probability that their children will enter school ready to learn and continue on to meet their full potential in education, work, and citizenship. The therapeutic, psychodynamic approach and robust three-year long relationship with families is designed to act as the catalyst for sustainable, long-term change in parenting methods and family system stability. Critically, and in contrast to other programs aimed at improving parenting and child development, Room to Grow believes that providing concrete material assistance enhances the effectiveness of counseling and referrals to low-income families by reducing economic stress and freeing up scarce resources.
Official title: Comprehensive Early Childhood Parenting Supports and Children's Health and Development
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
16 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
322
Start Date
2017-03-31
Completion Date
2023-10-04
Last Updated
2026-05-22
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Parenting, Child Development
The treatment group will consist of mothers that were randomly selected to receive Room to Grow services, which include three years of social and practical support for the mother and baby. The research-informed program model combines tailored, one-on-one sessions with an expert clinical social worker in-person every three months, provision of essential baby items including books, toys, clothing, and equipment (retail value of in-kind items over three years averages $10,000), and connections to vital community resources (e.g., housing, entitlements, child care, social services).
Locations (1)
Columbia University - Columbia Population Research Center (CPRC)
New York, New York, United States