N/A N=320 Randomized Other

Room to Grow Evaluation for Children

Parenting · Child Development

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04226053 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

320

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

May 2026

Primary outcome: Primary: Mean Score of Depressive Symptoms Using the CES-D Scale — 5.59; 5.95; 4.17; 4.74 score on a scale

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: N/A
Interventions: Parenting, Child Development (Other)
Age: Pediatric, Adult, Older Adult · 16+ yrs
Sex: Female
Sponsor: Columbia University
Primary completion: Oct 2023

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Mean Score of Depressive Symptoms Using the CES-D Scale	5.59; 5.95; 4.17; 4.74; 4.62; 4.76	—
PRIMARY Mean Score of Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)	5.99; 6.21; 4.71; 5.3; 4.89; 5.32	—
PRIMARY Mean Score of Parental Sense of Competence Using PSOC Scale	17.3; 17.01; 18.16; 17.62; 18.27; 17.99	—
PRIMARY Mean Score of the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS)	.47; .46; .51; .65; .72; .67	—
PRIMARY Mean Score of Cognitive Stimulation in the Home (STIMQ)	3.15; 3.01; 3.17; 3.12	—
PRIMARY Mean Score of Aggravation in Parenting Scale	.72; .85; .82; .86	—
PRIMARY Number of Toys and Goods in the Home	9.36; 8.21; 11.07; 10.34	—
PRIMARY Worry Enough Money for Baby Scale Score	7.27; 7.04; 5.18; 5.33; 4.83; 5.17	—
PRIMARY Mean Score of Parent Supportiveness Using the 3-bag Task	4.43; 4.38	—
PRIMARY Mean Score of Parent Detachment Using 3 Bag-task	1.35; 1.16	—
PRIMARY Mean Proportion Correct Score on Working Memory Span Performance	.63; .63	—
PRIMARY Mean Proportion Correct Score on Inhibitory Motor Control Performance	.87; .89	—
PRIMARY Mean Proportion Correct Score on Attention Shifting Performance	.73; .74	—
PRIMARY Mean Language Total Standard Score	104.6; 104.8	—

Summary

This research project is a small-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an innovative program based in New York City called Room to Grow (RtG). Room to Grow's mission is to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development. The research-informed program model combines tailored, one-on-one sessions with an expert clinical social worker in-person every three months plus ongoing communication (via phone and email), provision of essential baby items, and connections to vital community resources. The goal of Room to Grow's innovative program is to help parents increase the probability that their children will enter school ready to learn and continue on to meet their full potential in education, work, and citizenship. The therapeutic, psychodynamic approach and robust three-year long relationship with families is designed to act as the catalyst for sustainable, long-term change in parenting methods and family system stability. Critically, and in contrast to other programs aimed at improving parenting and child development, Room to Grow believes that providing concrete material assistance enhances the effectiveness of counseling and referrals to low-income families by reducing economic stress and freeing up scarce resources.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Female
Must be at least 16 years old
In third trimester (weeks 28-34) of pregnancy
Meet Room to Grow program criteria
Low-Income
In need of services

Exclusion Criteria

Cannot read/write English and/or Spanish
Male
Past third trimester
Already given birth
Mid to high income

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04226053). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.