The Family Foundations Trial
ConditionMental Health Outcomes
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorDeakin University
About this trial
In this project, researchers are exploring different ways to support the wellbeing and relationships of families with young children (0-12 years). People in regional and rural communities often live with the threat of bushfires, floods, drought, severe storms, and other extreme weather events. Some families have been affected by these disasters and are still trying to recover.
Researchers will test two different ways of supporting families in regional and rural Victoria:
Family Foundations (FF): An 8-session program to promote parent wellbeing, parenting partnerships, and communication. All parents/caregivers/parenting partners in the family participate in sessions delivered by a health professional online.
Family Life Check-In: A brief 30-minute telephone call with a health professional to discuss family wellbeing and relationships, and identify any supports needed.
The goal of this trial is to learn whether FF works to reduce mental health difficulties for regional and rural families. The main question it aims to answer is:
Compared to Family Life Check-In, does Family Foundations lead to fewer mental health difficulties?
Participants will:
Complete an online survey before randomisation, after they have received FF or Family Life Check-In, and six months after starting the project.
Take part in either Family Foundations or Family Life Check-In.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Family must be living in a regional or rural area
Family must have at least one child aged 0-12 years
At least 2 parents/caregivers in the family must agree to participate in evaluation, and FF, if allocated. (Please note: A family member or someone else involved in raising children in the family may participate in FF. Families are not required to be in a couple relationship or living together).
At least one parent/caregiver within the family reports mental health difficulties and/or two or more risk factors for poor mental health in the last 5 years including (a) experienced a recent or past natural disaster (i.e., drought, flood, fire, severe storm), (b) living with the threat of a natural disaster (i.e., bushfires during summer), (c) self-reported history of poor mental health, (d) financial hardship, (e) young parental age at time of first baby (18-25yrs), (f) relationship conflict, or (g) social isolation.
Disqualifiers
At least one parent has a severe mental health disorder - self reported psychosis, substance use dependency, prescribed anti-psychotic medication that may interfere with their ability to take part in the trial and in the FF intervention if allocated. They may require more intensive mental health interventions and treatment than what can be provided by the trial interventions.
The family has an overt indicator of family violence - self-reported intervention order or court case for family violence.
The family has child protection service involvement - self-reported.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Family Foundations
- Family Life Check-In
Treatment groups
472 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsSponsors and collaborators
Deakin University
Lead sponsor
La Trobe University
Collaborator
Holstep Health
Collaborator
Colac Area Health
Collaborator
Brophy Family & Youth Service
Collaborator
The Bridge
Collaborator
Kids First
Collaborator
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov