Family RelationsTPCNCT02902003
Testing Relationship Skills Education Services With a Robust Economic Security Component
A study testing Empowering Families in people with Family Relations, run by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The Parenting Center (TPC) offers the Empowering Families program, which integrates a relationship education curriculum (Family Wellness) into a comprehensive set of services that includes case management, employment services, and financial coaching. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Family Relations
- What is being tested?
- Empowering Families
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 1,758 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 2016to Dec 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- age 18 or older
- report that they are in a committed relationship with their partner
- speak a language in which programming is being offered
- be interested in participating in a program that offers both relationship skills and economic stability services
- be available to participate in programming for the next six months;
- pass a domestic violence screen
- not have an open case with child protective services.
- at least one member of the couple must have a biological or adopted child who is under age 18 and lives with them at least half time.
Who cannot join
- Ineligible if do not meet any of the above.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Testing the Effectiveness of Offering Relationship Skills Education Services With a Robust Economic Security Component to Low-income Couples Raising Children.
The Parenting Center (TPC) offers the Empowering Families program, which integrates a relationship education curriculum (Family Wellness) into a comprehensive set of services that includes case management, employment services, and financial coaching. The evaluation will test the effectiveness of offering relationship skills education services with a robust economic security component to low-income couples raising children.
Read the detailed description
The evaluation of Empowering Families will test the effectiveness of offering relationship skills education services with a robust economic security component to low-income couples raising children. The program is built on Family Wellness, a relationship education curriculum that has not yet been rigorously studied. The Parenting Center (TPC) has integrated Family Wellness into a comprehensive set of services that includes case management, employment services, and financial coaching. The evaluation will test the effect of this full package of services on couples' relationship and employment outcomes. The evaluation will also examine effects on outcomes related to child well-being, such as co-parenting and father involvement.
The Empowering Families evaluation will be conducted with low-income couples raising children. To be eligible for program services, both members of the couple must: (1) be age 18 or older, (2) report that they are in a committed relationship with their partner; (3) speak a language in which programming is being offered; (4) be interested in participating in a program that offers both relationship skills and economic stability services; (5) be available to participate in programming for the next six months; (6) pass a domestic violence screen; and (7) not have an open case with child protective services. In addition, at least one member of the couple must have a biological or adopted child who is under age 18 and lives with them at least half time. The Parenting Center will aim to recruit couples who are economically disadvantaged and likely to want both relationship skills and employment services.
The evaluation plan for the Empowering Families program calls for the enrollment and random assignment of 1,000 couples over the course of two years. This target requires The Parenting Center to recruit approximately 42 couples for the study each month. Half of these couples will be randomly assigned to the Empowering Families program; the other half will be assigned to a control group that is not eligible for program services.To document the outcomes of study participants, survey data will be collected at two time points: (1) a baseline survey administered at study enrollment and (2) a follow-up survey conducted about a year later. The investigators will also conduct a process study to document how Empowering Families was implemented.
- Conditions
- Family Relations
- Being tested
- Empowering Families
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Empowering FamiliesBehavioural
A program that integrates the healthy relationship curriculum, Family Wellness, into a comprehensive set of services that includes case management, employment services, and financial coaching. The program will have four core components: (1) 20 hours of core workshop sessions using the Family Wellness curriculum; (2) case management; (3) employment services; and (4) financial coaching. The core component of Empowering Families will be a 20-hour group workshop, organized into eight two-and-a-half-hour weekly sessions (Table 1). The main content of these sessions will be based on the Family Wellness relationship education curriculum which will be covered in six sessions. These six sessions will be led by two trained facilitators employed by The Parenting Center. The core workshops will be supplemented with two additional sessions on financial planning and employment topics that will designed to be useful to all participants, regardless of their level of financial and employment needs.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | Not eligible for program services |
| Empowering Families | Active comparator | These couples will be eligible to participate in the "Empowering Families" program. Receives: Behavioral: Empowering Families |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Employed or taking steps to find a job
a binary variable equal to 1 if a respondent was ever employed at any time during the first year after study enrollment or indicates that in the past year he/she has done any of the following:
- Created or updated a resume
- Looked for a job
- Submitted a job application
- Gone on a job interview
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Monthly earnings
This continuous variable uses survey data and is based on average monthly earnings from all jobs in the first year following study enrollment. It will be analyzed separately for men and women.
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Family economic hardship scale
This scale represents how many of six economic hardships the family experienced in the past year.
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Quality of co-parenting relationship
This 10-item scale (α = 0.94) is the average level of agreement-from "strongly disagree" (= 1) to "strongly agree" (= 4)-with statements about the respondent's partner, constructed by averaging across partners' responses.
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Couple married to each other
This is a binary variable equal to 1 if both partners report that they are married to each other
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Couple married or romantically involved
This is a binary variable equal to 1 if both partners report that they are married to each other or in a romantic relationship with each other
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Support and affection
This 12-item scale is the average level of agreement-from "strongly disagree" (= 1) to "strongly agree" (= 4)-with statements about the respondent's partner, constructed by averaging across partners' responses
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Avoidance of destructive conflict behaviors
This eight-item scale (α = 0.92) is the average frequency-from "never" (= 1) to "often" (= 4)-that a respondent reports experiencing destructive conflict behaviors with his or her partner, constructed by averaging across partners' responses
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Constructive conflict behaviors
This seven-item scale (α = 0.87) is the average frequency-from "never" (= 1) to "often" (= 4)-that a respondent reports experiencing constructive conflict behaviors with his or her partner, constructed by averaging across partners' responses
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Relationship commitment
This continuous variable ranges from 0 to 10, with higher values indicating that both partners are more committed to their romantic relationship. The measure is the average across the two partners' responses.
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Relationship happiness
This continuous variable ranges from 0 to 10, with higher values indicating that both partners report greater happiness with their romantic relationship. The measure is the average across the two partners' responses.
Measured: 1 year after random assignment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Sep 2016 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2016
- Primary completionDec 2018
- Study completionDec 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Family RelationsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 1,758 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Robert Wood, PhD, Study director, Mathematica Policy Research
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02902003
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MPR-500098-TPC
- Acronym
- TPC
- Status last verified
- Apr 2022
- First submitted
- 12 Sep 2016
- Last updated
- 22 Apr 2022
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Apr 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Testing the Effectiveness of Offering Relationship Skills Education Services With a Robust Economic Security Component to Low-income Couples Raising Children.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02902003
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TPC / MPR-500098-TPC
- Conditions
- Family Relations
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 1,758 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.University, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2016 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2018 (actual)
- Study completion
- Dec 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Sep 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The Parenting Center (TPC) offers the Empowering Families program, which integrates a relationship education curriculum (Family Wellness) into a comprehensive set of services that includes case management, employment services, and financial coaching. The evaluation will test the effectiveness of offering relationship skills education services with a robust economic security component to low-income couples raising children.
Detailed description
The evaluation of Empowering Families will test the effectiveness of offering relationship skills education services with a robust economic security component to low-income couples raising children. The program is built on Family Wellness, a relationship education curriculum that has not yet been rigorously studied. The Parenting Center (TPC) has integrated Family Wellness into a comprehensive set of services that includes case management, employment services, and financial coaching. The evaluation will test the effect of this full package of services on couples' relationship and employment outcomes. The evaluation will also examine effects on outcomes related to child well-being, such as co-parenting and father involvement.
The Empowering Families evaluation will be conducted with low-income couples raising children. To be eligible for program services, both members of the couple must: (1) be age 18 or older, (2) report that they are in a committed relationship with their partner; (3) speak a language in which programming is being offered; (4) be interested in participating in a program that offers both relationship skills and economic stability services; (5) be available to participate in programming for the next six months; (6) pass a domestic violence screen; and (7) not have an open case with child protective services. In addition, at least one member of the couple must have a biological or adopted child who is under age 18 and lives with them at least half time. The Parenting Center will aim to recruit couples who are economically disadvantaged and likely to want both relationship skills and employment services.
The evaluation plan for the Empowering Families program calls for the enrollment and random assignment of 1,000 couples over the course of two years. This target requires The Parenting Center to recruit approximately 42 couples for the study each month. Half of these couples will be randomly assigned to the Empowering Families program; the other half will be assigned to a control group that is not eligible for program services.To document the outcomes of study participants, survey data will be collected at two time points: (1) a baseline survey administered at study enrollment and (2) a follow-up survey conducted about a year later. The investigators will also conduct a process study to document how Empowering Families was implemented.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | –Not eligible for program services |
| Empowering Families | Active comparator | Behavioral: Empowering FamiliesThese couples will be eligible to participate in the "Empowering Families" program. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (8 listed)
- age 18 or older
- report that they are in a committed relationship with their partner
- speak a language in which programming is being offered
- be interested in participating in a program that offers both relationship skills and economic stability services
- be available to participate in programming for the next six months;
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Ineligible if do not meet any of the above.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Empowering FamiliesA program that integrates the healthy relationship curriculum, Family Wellness, into a comprehensive set of services that includes case management, employment services, and financial coaching. The program will have four core components: (1) 20 hours of core workshop sessions using the Family Wellness curriculum; (2) case management; (3) employment services; and (4) financial coaching. The core component of Empowering Families will be a 20-hour group workshop, organized into eight two-and-a-half-hour weekly sessions (Table 1). The main content of these sessions will be based on the Family Wellness relationship education curriculum which will be covered in six sessions. These six sessions will be led by two trained facilitators employed by The Parenting Center. The core workshops will be supplemented with two additional sessions on financial planning and employment topics that will designed to be useful to all participants, regardless of their level of financial and employment needs. | Behavioural | Empowering Families |
Primary outcome
Employed or taking steps to find a job
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
a binary variable equal to 1 if a respondent was ever employed at any time during the first year after study enrollment or indicates that in the past year he/she has done any of the following: * Created or updated a resume * Looked for a job * Submitted a job application * Gone on a job interview
Monthly earnings
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This continuous variable uses survey data and is based on average monthly earnings from all jobs in the first year following study enrollment. It will be analyzed separately for men and women.
Family economic hardship scale
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This scale represents how many of six economic hardships the family experienced in the past year.
Quality of co-parenting relationship
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This 10-item scale (α = 0.94) is the average level of agreement-from "strongly disagree" (= 1) to "strongly agree" (= 4)-with statements about the respondent's partner, constructed by averaging across partners' responses.
Couple married to each other
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This is a binary variable equal to 1 if both partners report that they are married to each other
Couple married or romantically involved
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This is a binary variable equal to 1 if both partners report that they are married to each other or in a romantic relationship with each other
Support and affection
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This 12-item scale is the average level of agreement-from "strongly disagree" (= 1) to "strongly agree" (= 4)-with statements about the respondent's partner, constructed by averaging across partners' responses
Avoidance of destructive conflict behaviors
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This eight-item scale (α = 0.92) is the average frequency-from "never" (= 1) to "often" (= 4)-that a respondent reports experiencing destructive conflict behaviors with his or her partner, constructed by averaging across partners' responses
Constructive conflict behaviors
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This seven-item scale (α = 0.87) is the average frequency-from "never" (= 1) to "often" (= 4)-that a respondent reports experiencing constructive conflict behaviors with his or her partner, constructed by averaging across partners' responses
Relationship commitment
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This continuous variable ranges from 0 to 10, with higher values indicating that both partners are more committed to their romantic relationship. The measure is the average across the two partners' responses.
Relationship happiness
Time frame: 1 year after random assignment
This continuous variable ranges from 0 to 10, with higher values indicating that both partners report greater happiness with their romantic relationship. The measure is the average across the two partners' responses.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Apr 2022.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Robert Wood, PhD study director
Mathematica Policy Research
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Empowering Families in people with Family Relations, run by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Apr 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Employed or taking steps to find a job (time frame: 1 year after random assignment). The study lists 11 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 Apr 2022.