NCT00216710

Evaluation of the Healthy Families Alaska Program

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 380 (actual)
• Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study will assess the effectiveness of early home visitation by a professional in preventing child maltreatment, promoting healthy family functioning, and promoting child health and development. The investigators will test the following hypotheses regarding the effectiveness of early paraprofessional home visiting for at-risk families * Actual home visiting services adhere to HFAK standards. * HFAK promotes healthy family functioning, promotes child health and development, and prevents child abuse and neglect. * Adherence to HFAK process standards is positively associated with achievement of outcomes.

Detailed description

Healthy Families Alaska (HFAK) is a well-established child abuse prevention program targeted to at-risk families. HFAK is based on the Healthy Families America initiative promoted by Prevent Child Abuse America. The State Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) administers the HFAK program. In 1998, the Alaska State Legislature requested a controlled study of HFAK to determine its effectiveness in preventing child maltreatment, promoting healthy family functioning, and promoting child health and development. DHSS awarded the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine a contract to conduct the study from July 1999 through June 2004. The study is a randomized trial of six HFAK sites throughout Alaska. It aims to compare services actually provided to HFAK standards, assess program success in achieving intended outcomes, and relate program impact to service delivery. Families are enrolled over 21 months beginning in January 2000. Families are randomized to either the HFAk group or the control group. Baseline data on family attributes are collected from HFAK files and maternal interviews. HFAK service data are collected from the program's management information system, record reviews, surveys of staff, and staff focus groups. Outcome data are collected when the children were two years old through maternal interview, home-based observations, child developmental testing, review of medical records, and review of OCS child welfare records.

Conditions

• Child Abuse

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Home Visiting

Timeline

• Start date: 1999-07-01
• Primary completion: 2004-02-21
• Completion: 2005-01-21
• First posted: 2005-09-22
• Last updated: 2017-08-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States