Abstract
This feasibility study evaluates the feasibility and intervention fidelity of an intensive home visitation intervention, Minding the Baby (MTB), with first-time teen mothers, their infants, and their family members living in an urban community affected by poverty.
The study, grounded in human ecology and attachment theory (parental reflective functioning[RF]), integrates advanced practice nursing and mental health care (infant mental health) through weekly home visits for young mothers with complex mental health needs and family situations. MTB pairs master's level clinicians (pediatric nurse practitioner [PNP] and clinical social worker [CSW]) with high risk young families. The PNP and CSW provide support for positive parenting and child health outcomes as well as modeling the development of strong parent-child relationships beginning in pregnancy and continuing through the infant's first year. Aims of the study are to:
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determine the feasibility of the MTB intervention in adolescent mothers and infants, with respect to a) maternal variables including the quality of the mother-infant relationship, maternal attachment capacity (RF), personal resources, mental health, and health and short term life course outcomes (school attendance/completion, delaying subsequent child-bearing); and b) infant variables including early attachment and infant health outcomes.
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Evaluate the implementation of intervention elements, including curricula and qualities of the MTB clinicians' relationships with adolescent mothers. This will include determining whether teen mothers and their family members are able to manage the intensity of the intervention and whether the research measures are understandable and appropriate to the sample.
The researchers will use the resources of the Center to develop appropriate ways to assess and ensure the fidelity of the intervention with adolescent mothers and will adapt the existing training materials and treatment manual (developed for adult mothers) to be useful for teen mothers.
The study includes multi-method approaches (surveys, coded observations, interviews) with a multi-ethnic cohort of 10 first-time mothers between the ages of 14-19 (and their infants). Maternal variables, child health outcome variables and process variables for the home visit intervention with teen parents will be followed over time (pregnancy, 6 weeks and 4 months postpartum).
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Principal Investigator
Lois Sadler
Co-Investigators
Linda Mayes
Arietta Slade
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