4 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The current study sought to evaluate an intervention to promote healthy couple relationships and economic stability and mobility for low-income couples living in Northern Virginia (VA) and Montgomery and Prince George's Counties (MD). The approach proposed integrated two components:(1) a 20-hour evidence-informed couple group workshop called TOGETHER that integrates relationship and financial education, followed by an optional three-hour booster session three months after TOGETHER workshop and (2) case management (assessment of participant needs, development of Individual and Couple Development Plan(ICDP), referrals for social and mental health services, and referrals and coordination with job and career enhancement services, linking and coordination of all services as needed). The 20-hour workshop was offered in 8 sessions facilitated by couple and financial experts. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated through a randomized control trial in which couples were randomly assigned to a control group (n=147) or an intervention group (n=145). The control group received no intervention but a three-hour financial workshop after the last assessment was completed whereas the intervention couples participated in the 20-hour interventions and received case management. An independent local evaluator(AVAR, Consulting) participated in the design, implementation, and most of the data analysis. Participants had to be at least 18 years-old, living together for at least a year, and had no severe domestic violence issues, or untreated substance abuse or severe psychiatric disorders. If both partners were retired, couples were excluded from participation. Couples participated in an intake and enrollment meeting and were randomly assigned by a computer generated system to either the intervention or control group. Couples in both groups completed three sets of self-report measures: (1)Pre-test in first workshop session or at intake for control couples, (2)post-test in the last workshop session, or 8 weeks after the pre-test for control couples, and (3)follow-up six months after the post-test. After the six-month follow-up assessment, participation in the program was concluded. The study was largely funded by a Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grant awarded by the Administration of Children and Families.
The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) has developed the Relationships, Education, Advancement, and Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life) Program. This is a 16-hour program for immigrants/refugees, ages 14 to 24. The program is designed to help young immigrants and refugees prepare for a successful life in the United States. The program is taught by USCRI program staff and is being implemented at eight sites across the U.S.: Cleveland, Ohio; Colchester, Vermont; Des Moines, Iowa; Miami, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Saint Paul, Minnesota; and Twin Falls, Idaho. The project also includes a rigorous evaluation component, featuring a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) design.
Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) are defined as the descendants of the original peoples of Polynesia (e.g., Hawai'i, Sāmoa, and Tonga), Melanesia (e.g., Fiji), and Micronesia (e.g., Guam, Chuuk, and Marshall Islands). Their history with the U.S. parallels that of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Before Western contact, NHPIs had thriving societies with rich cultural traditions. After contact, NHPI communities were decimated to near extinction by infectious diseases, exploited for their cultural and natural resources, displaced from their ancestral lands, forced to assimilate to Western ways, and marginalized through legislative acts and compulsory assimilation policies (i.e., banning native language). The consequences have been high rates of cardiometabolic medical conditions, such as obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. These medical conditions are, in part, a result of cultural disruptions and displacement that altered the traditional practices of NHPI and led to poor social determinants of health (SDOH). The basic premise of our project is that Community Health Workers (CHWs) can accelerate health equity for NHPI communities by disseminating and implementing culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions to prevent cardiometabolic medical conditions and improve their SDOH. The purpose of this project is to test the potential efficacy of the PILI Lifestyle Program (PLP) with integrated social determinants of health (SDOH) components and have it delivered by NHPI Community Health Workers (CHWs) to NHPIs with cardiometabolic-related conditions in a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) using a waitlist control. The investigators will evaluate the efficacy of the PLP+SDOH in improving the primary outcomes of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight in 180 adult NHPIs with pre-diabetes/type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or overweight/obesity.
There is a myth that if a person is applying for SSI/SSDI he cannot seek employment. This goal of this research is to learn if a new model of service can lead to employment, increase in gross wages, and a decrease in social isolation for persons with disabilities who work with Centers for Independent Living on applying for SSI/SSDI benefits. The researchers want to compare the services these centers typically offer these consumers to a new model - a team trained in (1) the SOAR model for SSI/SSDI application assistance, (2) certified benefits planning training, (3) customized employment training, and (4) individual employment placement services.