Targeting Child Mental Health and Household Poverty
Poverty, Child Health, Behavior Problem
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Poverty
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Children age 2-5y attending a routinely scheduled visit with their primary care provider. - - Parents respond affirmatively to the question "Do you ever have difficulty making ends meet at the end of the month?" Informed parental consent. Only one child will be enrolled per family. For families with more than one child, we will enroll the youngest eligible child. Exclusion Criteria: Child born prematurely (gestational age less than 32 weeks) birthweight less than 2500g Parent unable to communicate in English. Parents without legal status in Canada. Families already receiving support with system navigation, such as from a social worker or public health nurse.
Sites / Locations
- Queen's Family Health TeamRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Community Support Worker
Control
Participants in the intervention group will have a structured review of their financially related needs and resources with a trained CSW, who will have a thorough understanding of potential income supports and community support agencies. The CSW will use a structured approach to identify financial needs and benefits for which the family is eligible The CSW will work intensively with families in the intervention arm to identify and meet their goals. They will conduct weekly meetings to complete forms, and provide advocacy (in person and by telephone) as needed up to six meetings as needed for system navigation.
There is no clear standard of care and potential for practice variation in clinician responses to identified social need. For this proposal, participants in the comparator group will receive Usual care, defined as: Participants in both groups will receive a written summary of available resources.