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This study was a randomized controlled trial. Eligible participants were mothers or caregivers who had recently given birth and who lived in high-poverty ZIP codes in Philadelphia. Participants were recruited while still in the hospital's postpartum unit. Mothers or caregivers were eligible if their infants did not have a low birth weight or any identified genetic or developmental disorders, and if they had not received any intervention from the hospital's intensive care unit. Researchers screened potential participants for eligibility, requested their consent to participate, and then randomly assigned participants. The study identified 650 eligible participants during the recruitment period from July 2001 to January 2002. Of the eligible participants, 302 mothers provided consent to participate in the study. A member of the study team randomly assigned eligible participants participants to the intervention or comparison group. To ensure an even spread of assignments over time, the study team randomly assigned eligible participants in blocks of 20—with assignments randomly and evenly spread between the two groups. The study team randomly assigned 152 mothers or caregivers to the intervention group and 150 to the comparison group.
The study team enrolled participants in the study from July 2001 to January 2002 and followed participants for 33 months.
The William Penn Foundation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Claneil Foundation, an anonymous donor through The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Pew Charitable Trust’s Home Visiting Campaign
Participants were mothers or caregivers with low incomes. Participants predominantly identified as African American (94 percent). They were, on average, 23 years of age, first-time mothers (44 percent), and mothers of female children (54 percent).
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
The study was a randomized controlled trial studying the larger MOM program, a home visiting program that served urban mothers and caregivers with low incomes by providing knowledge and resources to help them obtain early intervention support for their children. A replication of the MOM Program is being developed in other high-poverty areas in Philadelphia.
The MOM Program provided mothers or caregivers with home visits and follow-up phone calls to foster participants' abilities to promote the health and development of their children. Participants received up to 11 home visits over 3 years. Home visits were scheduled to occur before a well-child visit, and the final home visit occurred when the child turned 33 months. A team of nurse practitioners and community workers provided home visits. Home visitors followed a protocol with prescribed goals and expectations for each visit. At 18 months, home visitors assessed children using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and shared the results with participants to provide insight into their child's development. Finally, home visitors discussed additional services that might be available for children, such as Early Head Start.
The comparison group received an informational booklet on services for their children.
None
Participants received services for up to 33 months.
The study took place in Philadelphia, PA. Participants were recruited from an urban academic hospital and lived in high-poverty zip codes.
Service receipt and duration, use of homeless services, child development assessment results, and infant health and behavioral characteristics