Extension Study of the Family Spirit Program

The aim of the proposed research is to implement and evaluate a follow-up study of the impact of the Family Spirit family strengthening program among a high-risk sample of Apache mothers and their children. The Family Spirit intervention is a 52-session home-visiting curriculum administered by American Indian paraprofessionals to young mothers from 28 weeks gestation through the child's first 3 years of life. In a series of pilot studies and a recently completed randomized controlled trial, the Family Spirit intervention has been found to positively impact several maternal, parenting and child outcomes up through three years postpartum. In the proposed study, the investigators will implement the Family Spirit intervention to young mothers (12-20 years at conception), with revisions to several assessment measures and to the curriculum such that the substance abuse prevention curriculum modules will be taught earlier than in the original study.