PROJECT SUMMARY
Over two-thirds of children experience traumatic events such as child maltreatment, violence, or sudden or
violent loss. Many of these children sustain significant emotional and developmental difficulties including trauma
symptoms, aggression, and suicidality. Emotional support from a caregiver is theorized to buffer against the
effects of trauma; however, many caregivers lack the self-efficacy and skills to effectively support their child, or
struggle to apply these skills during the stressful time following trauma. Unfortunately, programs designed for
caregivers following child trauma are scarce. Existing interventions are lengthy (lasting 8-20 sessions) and result
in families placed on long waitlists. This proposal asserts the adverse effects of child trauma can be interrupted
though a brief intervention (the Project Support Positive Parenting Module) that enhances supportive parenting
– delivered via telehealth to families on waitlists for trauma-focused services. Pilot data collected by the candidate
suggests this intervention can be delivered by paraprofessionals, improve parenting self-efficacy and emotional
support, and increase later trauma-focused treatment attendance. However, the provider characteristics (e.g.,
knowledge, experiences), as well as inner (e.g., organizational support) and outer (e.g., patient needs, attitudes)
contextual factors that influence uptake of a brief intervention for families on the waitlist for trauma services is
unknown. Aims 1 and 2 comprise the K99 Mentored Research Phase and Aim 3 comprises the R00 Independent
Research Phase. Specific Aims include: 1) examine barriers and facilitators to delivering Project Support via
telehealth with n = 20 caregivers and n = 10 treatment providers; 2) examine the feasibility and acceptability of
Project Support via telehealth in a mixed-methods proof-of-concept pilot trial with n = 30 families waiting for
trauma-focused services and n = 4 treatment providers; and 3) evaluate the preliminary efficacy of Project
Support in a randomized controlled trial (Project Support vs. treatment as usual) among n = 100 families waiting
for trauma-focused services. The proposed research activities coincide with training that will support the
candidate’s transition to an independent investigator. In the K99 phase the candidate will receive training via
coursework, workshops, and consultation in: (1) implementation science frameworks and dissemination
strategies, (2) qualitative and mixed methodology, and (3) grantsmanship and scientific communication.
Mentorship and consultation from experts in child trauma, caregiver-child relationships, implementation science,
qualitative methods, and statistical analyses will ensure training goals are met. This proposal will support the
candidate’s long-term career goal to become an independently funded tenure track faculty who advances the
field of child trauma research by studying the consequences of children’s trauma exposure and developing and
testing innovative parenting-based interventions for victims of trauma and their families. This K99/R00
mechanism is a critical step to obtaining the experience and independence necessary to obtain this goal.
