The Oklahoma Parent-Child Assistance Program

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Parent-Child Assistance Program in Oklahoma

The Parent-Child Assistance Program (PCAP) helps mothers who have used alcohol, opioids, or other drugs during pregnancy and their children through the work of highly trained, closely supervised case managers. Case managers work closely with mothers over the course of three years, meeting the mothers in their own homes when possible, to help them to set goals and take advantage of available resources. The primary aims of PCAP include: (1) assisting mothers in obtaining substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and staying in recovery, (2) linking mothers to community resources that will help them build and maintain healthy, independent family lives for themselves and their children, and (3) preventing future drug and alcohol use during pregnancy.

This study brings PCAP to Oklahoma (the state with the highest incarceration rate for women, where most enter the criminal justice system for drug charges) for the first time. This five-year project includes 200 women who will enroll in the study and be randomly assigned to the treatment (100 women) or control group (100 women). The intervention (i.e., PCAP services) will take place over a three-year period at two sites: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This evaluation will measure participants' substance use, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment outcomes, and a host of other well-being outcomes-including but not limited to subsequent substance-exposed births, use of public assistance, education, use of family planning methods, and employment-to evaluate the effects of PCAP services. Among these, the investigators have identified four key outcomes: (1) the mother is on a reliable method of birth control, (2) abstinence for six months, (3) child custody (i.e., placement of children in foster care and/or with kinship providers), and (4) criminal justice involvement.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Pregnancy Related; Substance Use Disorders; Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD); Drug Use Disorders; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; Alcohol Use Complicating Pregnancy, First Trimester; Alcohol Use Complicating Pregnancy, Second Trimester; Alcohol Use Complicating Pregnancy, Third Trimester; Alcohol Use Complicating Pregnancy, Unspecified Trimester; Alcohol Use Complicating Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium; Drug Use Complicating Pregnancy, First Trimester; Drug Use Complicating Pregnancy, Second Trimester; Drug Use Complicating Pregnancy, Third Trimester; Drug Use Complicating Pregnancy, Unspecified Trimester; Drug Use Complicating Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium; Maternal Drugs Affecting Fetus
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Parent-Child Assistance Program

Detailed Description

The Parent-Child Assistance Program (PCAP) helps mothers who have used alcohol, opioids, or other drugs during pregnancy and their children through the work of highly trained, closely supervised case managers. Case managers work closely with mothers over the course of three years, meeting the mothers in their own homes when possible, to help them to set goals and take advantage of available resources. The primary aims of PCAP include: (1) assisting mothers in obtaining substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and staying in recovery, (2) linking mothers to community resources that will help them build and maintain healthy, independent family lives for themselves and their children, and (3) preventing future drug and alcohol use during pregnancy.

This study brings PCAP to Oklahoma (the state with the highest incarceration rate for women, where most enter the criminal justice system for drug charges) for the first time. In Washington state, where PCAP was first developed and implemented by researchers at the University of Washington in 1991 with federal funding, PCAP has expanded to 15 sites, covering 19 counties and a large majority of the state's population. The population the Washington program serves is highly vulnerable with significant childhood trauma. Eighty-nine percent of the mothers themselves had parents who abused alcohol and drugs. Nearly two-thirds were physically or sexually abused as children. Approximately one quarter had spent time in foster care. Thirty-five percent did not have a high school degree. Among 36% of mothers, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) was their main source of income. The investigators anticipate that PCAP participants in Oklahoma will share similar characteristics with those in Washington.

PCAP in Washington conducts evaluations focused on tracking outcomes for all participants. Despite the complex needs and vulnerability of this population and the tenuous situation of substance abuse while pregnant, PCAP outcomes are impressive. Among 1,561 graduates of the 3-year program between 2014-2020, at their exit from the program:

• 90% had completed SUD treatment or were in progress
• 82% were abstinent from alcohol and drugs for 6 months or more during the program and/or regularly using reliable contraception
• 54% had attended or completed classes (GED, college, or work training)
• 70% of the mothers had retained or regained legal custody of their child
• 93% had obtained well child visits and were up to date on child immunizations

Graduates of Washington PCAP were also less likely to use illicit drugs and receive TANF and more likely to be employed, use reliable contraceptives, and reside in permanent or stable housing. Furthermore, the Washington State legislature, prior to expanding the program, requested a cost savings analysis. This analysis, based on robust evaluation results, shows that the program likely realizes multiple sources of cost savings from reduced dependence on child welfare, fewer subsequent alcohol- and drug-exposed children, and reduced dependence on public assistance, among other benefits. The investigators expect similar outcomes for PCAP in Oklahoma.

This five-year project includes 200 women who will enroll in the study and be randomly assigned to the treatment (100 women) or control group (100 women). The intervention (i.e., PCAP services) will take place over a three-year period at two sites: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The control group will be provided with a service resource list and receive services as usual but will not be enrolled in PCAP. The intervention will conclude with sufficient time for a six-month follow-up survey for women who are among the first to enroll in PCAP.

The evaluation of Oklahoma PCAP includes multiple surveys to measure participants' substance use, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment outcomes, and a host of other well-being outcomes, including but not limited to subsequent substance-exposed births, use of public assistance, education, use of family planning methods, and employment. Among these, the investigators have identified four key outcomes: (1) the mother is on a reliable method of birth control, (2) abstinence for six months, (3) child custody (i.e., placement of children in foster care and/or with kinship providers), and (4) criminal justice involvement.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Julie Gerlinger, Ph.D.; Phone Number: (405) 325-1751; Email: jgerlinger@ou.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Angela Harnden, Ph.D.; Phone Number: (405) 919-9708; Email: aharnden@ou.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73106
      • Recruiting
      • Oklahoma City
      • Contact: Angela Harnden
    • Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, 74120
      • Recruiting
      • Tulsa
      • Contact: Angela Harnden

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or older
• Women who have used alcohol, opioids, or other drugs during pregnancy
• Women who are (1) pregnant or have a child under 24 months old who was exposed to substances and are not well connected to community services or (2) have a child with fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and are currently with at-risk alcohol use and in childbearing years
• Resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma or Tulsa, Oklahoma

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not meeting eligible criteria above
• Incarcerated at the time of enrollment
• Enrollment in similar services (i.e., ReMerge, Systems of Care (SOC) and/or Family Treatment Courts (FTC) and heading to Termination of Parental Rights (TPR))
• If the participant is receiving services from the Substance use Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Prenatal Clinic and is part of the research, their enrollment in PCAP will be delayed until STAR Prenatal Clinic graduation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Treatment Group; The treatment group consists of women who have used alcohol, opioids, or other drugs during pregnancy and their children. Mothers who are randomly assigned to the treatment group will receive PCAP services through the work of highly trained, closely supervised case managers.	Other: Parent-Child Assistance Program; Case managers work closely with mothers over the course of three years, meeting the mothers in their own homes when possible, to help them to set goals and take advantage of available resources.
No Intervention: Control Group; The control group consists of women who have used alcohol, opioids, or other drugs during pregnancy and their children. Women in the control group will be provided with a service resource list and receive services as usual, but they will not be enrolled in PCAP.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in using a reliable method(s) of birth control	The mother is on a reliable method(s) of birth control.	Measured every six months up to 4 years
Change in abstinence	The mother is abstinent from alcohol and drugs for at least six months.	Measured every six months up to 4 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in criminal justice involvement	The mother has had no new involvement with the criminal justice system.	Measured every six months up to 4 years
Change in child custody	The mother has physical custody of the index child.	Measured every six months up to 4 years
Change in stable housing	The mother resides in stable housing.	Measured every six months up to 4 years
Change in employment	The mother is employed.	Measured every six months up to 4 years
Change in education	The mother has completed or is enrolled in educational program.	Measured every six months up to 4 years
Change in use of public benefits	The mother receives public benefits (e.g., housing, food, cash)	Measured every six months up to 4 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Oklahoma
• Collaborators: University of Washington; Casey Family Programs; University of Oklahoma Outreach; Oklahoma Mental Health and Substance Abuse; Arnall Family Foundation; Oklahoma Human Services; OU Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Erin Maher, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• PCAP Website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 15, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 15, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 7, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): September 9, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 7, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2024
• Last Verified: June 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: alcohol dependence; drug abuse; alcohol abuse; addictions; Substance use disorder; drug dependence; alcoholism; Parent-child assistance; recovery services; PCAP
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Drinking Behavior; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Fetal Diseases; Alcohol-Induced Disorders; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Substance-Related Disorders; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Pregnancy Complications; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 14394

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No