Development of a culturally enhanced caregiver-facilitated language nutrition intervention "+Language is Medicine" to address developmental delay in Diné (Navajo) toddlers.

Introduction: Developmental Delay (DD) is highly common in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN; Indigenous) toddlers and leads to high numbers of AI/AN children who eventually need special education services. AI/AN children are 2.89 times more likely to receive special education compared to other children in the U.S., yet developmental disorders are more frequently under diagnosed and untreated in AI/AN infants and toddlers. DD, which can be identified as early as toddlerhood, can lead to negative impacts on developmental trajectories, school readiness, and long-term health. Signs of DD can be identified early with proper developmental screening and remediated with high quality early intervention that includes effective parent training. There are many evidence-based language facilitation interventions often used in Early Intervention programs. However, in communities in rural parts of the Navajo Nation where there are limited services and resources, infants and toddlers with early signs of DD are often missed and do not get the culturally responsive support and evidence-based intervention they deserve. Methods: The community-based +Language is Medicine (+LiM) study team partnered with tribal home visitors, community members, and a Diné linguist/elder using a collaborative virtual workgroup approach in 2021 and 2022 to present the +LiM pilot study aims and to discuss strategies for enhancing a language intervention for toddlers experiencing DD in their tribal community. This paper will detail the stages of community engagement, intervention enhancement and preparation for field testing of the +LiM intervention to address elevated rates of DD in toddlers in the Northern Agency of the Navajo Nation. Results: Two major outcomes from this collaborative workgroup included: (1) a team-initiated redefining of language nutrition to align with Indigenous values that center cultural connectedness and native language use and (2) a five-lesson caregiver-facilitated curriculum titled +Language is Medicine which includes caregiver lessons on language nutrition, language facilitation, shared book reading, pretend play, and incorporation of native language into home routines. These two workgroup outcomes were leveraged to develop a pilot pre-/post-intervention study to test the effectiveness of the +LiM intervention with caregiver-toddler dyads living on the Navajo Nation. Discussion: Delivering tailored child interventions through tribal home visiting are cost-effective and innovative methods for reaching reservation-based families who benefit from culturally responsive parent coaching and instruction. The +LiM team has applied a precision tribal home visiting approach to enhance methods of early intervention for children with DD. Our enhancement process was grounded in Indigenous community-based participatory research that centered culture and language.

Towards precision home visiting: results at six months postpartum from a randomized pilot implementation trial to assess the feasibility of a precision approach to Family Spirit.

BACKGROUND: Shared implementation challenges at scale in early childhood home visiting have led researchers to explore precision home visiting as a promising service delivery mechanism to better address families' unique needs and build greater program efficiencies. This randomized controlled pilot study aimed to assess the acceptability of a precision approach to one home visiting model, Family Spirit® and explore potential differences between Precision Family Spirit (PFS) and Standard Family Spirit (Standard FS) on participant-home visitor relationship and maternal outcomes. METHODS: Participants (N = 60) were at least 14 years old, pregnant or within 2 months postpartum, and enrolled in Family Spirit. Four sites in Michigan were randomized 1:1 to deliver PFS (up to 17 core lessons plus up to 13 additional lessons as needed) or Standard FS (home visiting services as usual). Primary (program acceptability, participant satisfaction, home visitor-participant relationship quality, retention, adherence) and secondary (knowledge, quality of life, difficulty with parenting problems, substance use, depression, stress) outcomes at 6 months postpartum are presented. PFS participants also self-reported on quality of life, difficulty with parenting problems, stress, substance use, and concerns with sexual and reproductive health and self and child's nutrition status at each home visit. This informed which lessons they should receive. RESULTS: Mothers in both groups reported positive program acceptability, satisfaction, and home visitor-participant relationships at 6 months postpartum. However, open-ended feedback from Standard FS participants indicates that some lesson content may not be applicable to all participants. At 6 months, retention was 82.3% for PFS and 66.7% for Standard FS, and adherence was 30.1% for PFS and 20.6% for Standard FS. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings indicate that precision home visiting may be acceptable and feasible. A definitive trial is needed to build on this pilot data, assess outcomes for mothers and children participating in a precision approach to home visiting as compared to standard home visiting, and ready this approach for scale. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03975530 (first posted on 05/06/2019).

Home visitor perspectives on implementing a precision approach to home visiting in communities serving Native American families.

Family Spirit (FS) is a federally endorsed evidence-based home visiting programs serving as a key prevention strategy for expectant families and families with young children. Like other home-visiting programs, it shares client challenges in retention and engagement during implementation. We assessed (1) the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a precision approach to FS; and (2) differences in approaches to FS delivery. Home visitors, serving primarily Native American families, that delivered a standard (N = 6) or a precision approach (N = 6) to FS across four study sites each participated in up to four virtual focus group discussions (FGDs) (N = 16). Facilitators and barriers to implementation were identified across the curriculum approach, relational and contextual levels. Facilitators: Relevant and culturally sensitive lessons, lesson structure, client-home visitor relationship, client buy-in, home visitor autonomy, leadership support, flexible funding, and training. Barriers: Irrelevant lessons, substance use content, missing topics, families experiencing crises, client and home visitor availability, client feedback, nonsupportive leadership, inadequate funding, and organizational policies and practices. The precision approach offers (1) tailoring of lessons that supports relevance of content to clients; and (2) a target timeframe that supports flexibility in lesson delivery. This model structure may improve client participation and retention.

Espíritu de Familia (FS) es un programa de visitas a casa con base en la evidencia y respaldado federalmente, el cual sirve como una estrategia clave de prevención para familias con niños pequeños que esperan otro niño. Tal como otros programas de visitas a casa, éste comparte los retos de los participantes en cuanto a retención y participación activa durante la implementación. Evaluamos 1) la factibilidad y accesibilidad de implementar un acercamiento de precisión a FS; y 2) las diferencias en cuanto al acercamiento del ofrecimiento de FS. Los visitadores a casa, quienes primariamente les sirven a familia nativo-americanas, y que ofrecieron un acercamiento estándar (N = 6) o uno de precisión (N = 6) a FS a través de 4 lugares de estudio, cada uno participó en un máximo de 4 discusiones virtuales de grupos de enfoque (N = 16). Los aspectos que facilitaron y las barreras a la implementación se identificaron a lo largo de los niveles de acercamiento, relacionales y contextuales del currículo. Aspectos que facilitaron: lecciones relevantes y culturalmente sensibles, estructura de lecciones, la relación entre el participante-casa y el visitador, la aceptación por parte del participante, la autonomía del visitador a casa, el apoyo de liderazgo, la flexibilidad de los fondos, así como el entrenamiento. Barreras: lecciones irrelevantes, contenido sobre uso de sustancias, temas que no se incluyeron, las familias que experimentaban una crisis, la disponibilidad del participante y del visitador, información aportada por el participante, falta de apoyo del liderazgo, fondos inadecuados, así como las políticas y prácticas organizacionales. El acercamiento de precisión ofrece 1) moldear las lecciones que apoyan la relevancia del contenido a los participantes; y 2) un definido marco de tiempo que apoya la flexibilidad del ofrecimiento de las lecciones. Esta estructura de modelo pudiera mejorar la participación y retención de participantes.

Le programme Family Spirit (FS, soit Esprit de Famille) est une programme américain, basé sur des données probantes, avalisé par le gouvernement américain, de visite à domicile, servant de stratégie de prévention clé pour les familles attendant un enfant ou les familles avec de jeunes enfants. Comme d'autres programmes de visite à domicile, ce programme partage des difficultés dans la rétention et l'engagement des clients durant la mise en oeuvre. Nous avons évalué 1) la fiabilité et l'acceptabilité de la mise en œuvre d'une approche de précision du FS; et 2) des différences dans les approches de l'application du FS. Les visiteurs à domicile, servant principalement des familles amérindiennes américaines, qui ont présenté une approche standard (N = 6) ou une approche de précision (N = 6) du FS et au travers de 4 sites d'étude chacun ont participé à jusqu'à 4 discussions de groupe d'étude virtuels (n = 16). Les aspects facilitateurs et les barrières à la mise en place ont été identifiés au travers de l'approche du curriculum, des niveaux relationnels et contextuels. Aspects de facilitation: leçons pertinentes et culturellement sensibles, structure de la leçon, relation client-visiteur à domicile, adhésion du client, autonomie du visiteur à domicile, soutient des dirigeants, budget flexible, formation. Barrières: leçons n'étant pas pertinentes, contenu d'usage de substance, sujets qui manquent, familles faisant l'expérience de crises, disponibilité du client et du visiteur à domicile, retour du client, dirigeants qui n'offrent aucun soutien, budget inadéquat, et politiques et pratiques organisationnelles. L'approche de précision offre 1) une adaptation sur mesure des leçons qui soutient la pertinence du contenu pour les clients; et 2) un délai ciblé qui soutient la flexibilité de l'enseignement. Cette structure de modèle peut améliorer la participation et la rétention.

Precision Family Spirit: a pilot randomized implementation trial of a precision home visiting approach with families in Michigan-trial rationale and study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Home visiting is a well-supported strategy for addressing maternal and child health disparities. However, evidence-based models generally share implementation challenges at scale, including engagement and retention of families. Precision home visiting may address this issue. This paper describes the first known pilot randomized implementation trial of a precision home visiting approach vs. standard implementation. Primary aims are to: 1) explore the acceptability and feasibility of a precision approach to home visiting and 2) examine the difference between Standard Family Spirit and Precision Family Spirit on participants' program satisfaction, client-home visitor relationship, goal alliance, and the impact of these factors on participant engagement and retention. Secondary aims are to explore potential differences on maternal behavioral and mental health outcomes and child development outcomes to inform sample size estimations for a fully powered study. METHODS: This is a pilot Hybrid Type 3 implementation trial. Four Michigan communities primarily serving the Native American families and already using Family Spirit were randomized by site to receive Standard Family Spirit or Precision Family Spirit. Participants include N = 60 mothers at least 14 years of age (pregnant or with a newborn < 2 months of age) currently enrolled in Family Spirit. Precision Family Spirit participants receive core lessons plus additional lessons based on needs identified at baseline and that emerge during the trial. Control mothers receive the standard sequence of Family Spirit lessons. Data is collected at baseline (< 2 months postpartum), and 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. All Precision Family Spirit participants are invited to complete qualitative interviews at study midpoint and endpoint. All home visitors are invited to participate in focus groups between study midpoint and endpoint. Exploratory data analysis will assess feasibility, acceptability, client-home visitor relationship, retention, adherence, and potential differences in intervention outcomes. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide new information about the acceptability and feasibility of precision home visiting and pilot data on program satisfaction, client-home visitor relationship, goal alliance, retention, and targeted maternal-child intervention outcomes. Findings will inform the design of a fully powered randomized implementation trial of precision vs. standard home visiting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03975530 ; Registered on June 5, 2019.

Pregnancy and birth outcome improvements for American Indians in the Healthy Start project of the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, 1998-2008.

American Indians living in Michigan experience disproportionately high rates of infant mortality. This 11-year (1998-2008) cohort study evaluated impacts of a Healthy Start (HS) program administered by the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan (ITCM) on perinatal outcomes. Women who enrolled in ITCM's HS program ("exposed") were compared with non-enrolled ("unexposed") for four outcomes: low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age, preterm birth, and inadequate prenatal care. To classify exposed and unexposed women and their children, Michigan vital records data were linked with HS enrollment records to identify participants and non-participants among all American Indian births. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios for the four outcomes of interest. Analyses were stratified for high and low access to care based on Medically Underserved Area (MUA) designation for a woman's county of residence. Of 4,149 American Indian births during the period, 872 were to women who enrolled prenatally in HS. Although unstratified analysis showed no differences between HS participants and non-participants, stratified analyses demonstrated that participants from MUA counties had decreased odds of LBW and inadequate prenatal care. Results suggest that in MUA counties where participants and non-participants are at similar risk for poor outcomes, HS may be reducing barriers and improving outcomes. In non-MUA counties participants had similar outcomes as non-participants. These results may reflect a wider disparity in risk factors between the two groups in non-MUA counties. The complex interplay among need, access, and benefit complicates analyses and suggests the importance of more in-depth and focused studies.