Research
Our research is centered on creating cutting-edge treatment and tools to improve the multi-generational effects of inequity, trauma, and adversity from pregnancy through early childhood.
Prenatal Stress Study
PI: Maria Muzik
Team Lead: Olivia Oates
Funder: National Institute of Health (NIH)
The Prenatal Stress Study is a NIH funded grant for a longitudinal, cross site study between Michigan Medicine and Michigan State University. Dr. Maria Muzik is the principal investigator on Michigan Medicine’s team. PSS is an observational study where women are followed from under 20 weeks pregnant to when their child is 7 years old with the goal of learning more about how the timing of stress during pregnancy impacts mothers and their children.
MIP: Using Multimedia for Professional and Peer-Delivered Trauma-Informed Care FY23 (aka eCoaching)
PI: Katherine Rosenblum
Team Lead: Diana Saum
Funder: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
The goal of the project is to expand reach, utilization, and efficacy of Strong Roots to better support early childhood care providers and the families that they serve across the state of Michigan. This work was initiated in response to a 2015 survey showing that almost 90% of early childhood care providers requested additional training in how to effectively support underserved families cope with stress and trauma, as well as increase resiliency. The current focus of this project is the development of a provider delivered multimedia toolkit and a peer-delivered Strong Roots Parent Café model, as well as increasing the cultural relevancy of all of our Strong Roots Programs.
Focus: providers and families with young children in the state of Michigan, innovative service delivery, cultural relevancy
Postpartum Intervention for Mothers with History Opioid Use Disorder – Brain Behavior Mechanisms (aka Partnering Postpartum, “P2”)
PI: Maria Muzik
Team Lead: Diana Saum & Kaitlyn Reimer
Funder: National Institute of Health (NIH)
This project is a multi-site randomized control trial being conducted in partnership with Stoney Brook University of Mom Power for mothers with a history of opioid use. Specifically we are investigating the effect of virtual Mom Power intervention on maternal mood, parenting stress, and drug craving via maternal behavior neurocircuits. We are conducting virtual Mom Power groups and assess using pre/post EEG and maternal self-report data.
Focus: virtual Mom Power, mothers with history of opioid use, parental brain mechanisms
The Infant Mental Health Home-Visiting (IMH-HV) Projects
PIs: Katherine Rosenblum, Maria Muzik, Jessica Riggs
Team Lead: Emily Alfafara
Overall Project Focus: The Infant Mental Health Home-Visiting (IMH-HV) projects are an ongoing collaboration between Zero to Thrive and the Michigan Department of Human Health Services (MDHHS) to rigorously evaluate the outcomes of IMH-HV services, as well as develop and support an advanced training curriculum for IMH-HV. Evaluations included two quasi-experimental studies completed in the community and one university-based randomized control trial. A standardized training curriculum was developed to ensure IMH-HV is delivered by well-trained, supported providers who receive continuing education according to developed fidelity standards. The training curriculum has been successfully implemented with two state-wide training cohorts, including a train-the-trainers model that resulted in a prepared team of certified trainers. Most recently, a quality improvement project included focus groups with IMH-HV providers and parents. Results were incorporated into training curriculum refinements to ensure it is more culturally responsive and better addresses barriers to therapeutic alliance. UM will provide booster session training to previous training cohorts to support continued learning. Analysis, publication, and dissemination of study results continues in an effort to achieve various evidence-based designations for IMH-HV.
IMH-HV Study 1
Funder: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry’s Women and Infants Mental Health Program
"Mile wide, inch deep” study that included quarterly assessments from over 500 families that were engaged in IMH-HV services at community mental health agencies in Detroit-Wayne, Genesee and Midland Counties. Assessments included information collected as part of standard of care, i.e., demographics, child development, parental mental health and parenting stress.
IMH-HV Study 2
Funder: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry’s Women and Infants Mental Health Program
“Inch deep, mile wide” study that included many assessments (quarterly, bi-weekly) collected from families that were engaged in IMH-HV services at 12 community mental health agencies across 6 counties in Southeastern Michigan. Assessments were completed in family’s home by the UM study team over the course of a year of treatment and included self-report questionnaires, videotaped parent-child interaction and audio recorded interviews. Clinicians also provided data. Outcomes areas aligned with Michigan Public Act 291 and HomVEE Benchmarks.
IMH-HV RCT “Thriving Together: Promoting Early Positive Development”
Funder: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry’s Women and Infants Mental Health Program
Rigorous evaluation of outcomes for families randomized to receive IMH-HV services vs. treatment as usual through a randomized control trial. Six assessments were completed in family’s homes (or virtually) by the UM study team over the course of 24 months and included self-report questionnaires, videotaped parent-child interaction, audio recorded interviews and biological samples from mom and baby. Clinicians also provided data. Outcomes areas aligned with Michigan Public Act 291 and HomVEE Benchmarks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, additional data was collected from families regarding the pandemic’s impact.
Assessment of IMH-HV Training
Funder: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Community Mental Health Services Block Grant, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry’s Women and Infants Mental Health Program
Included the development of a standardized training curriculum and anonymous feedback from providers participating in the first training cohort using the standardized training model. Additionally, quarterly assessments from families who were engaged in IMH-HV services provided by clinicians who received the training.
IMH-HV Training of Trainers
Funder: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry’s Women and Infants Mental Health Program
The implementation of a train-the-trainers model with 5 Apprentice Trainers guided by 3 Senior Trainers. Trainers co-led a second training cohort utilizing the standardized IMH-HV training curriculum. Apprentice Trainer skills were regularly assessed and ultimately certified by Senior Trainers.
IMH-HV Focus Group Project “Improving IMH-HV Training Curriculum to Strengthen Cultural Responsiveness and Equitable Service Delivery”
Funder: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
A quality improvement project that included focus groups with IMH-HV providers and parents to hear about barriers and facilitators to therapeutic alliance. Themes from focus groups were analyzed to create recommendations for how IMH-HV training curriculum can better prepare providers for working with diverse populations of families. Curriculum refinements were completed based on focus group recommendations and ensure the cultural responsiveness of content.