Safe Mothers, Safe Children Initiative

Safe Mothers, Safe Children Initiative

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an evidence-based post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) intervention adapted to focus on parenting-related impairment for mothers receiving preventive services. The study intervention is adapted from Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR). The investigators expect that the adaption (Parenting STAIR) has the potential to prevent child maltreatment as well as improve maternal and child well-being by reducing the effects of maternal PTSD and depression on parenting.

The investigators plan to recruit mothers with high levels of trauma-related symptoms from preventive service agencies, and invite them to participate in the study. This study is a single group design, and data will be collected pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 12-week follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mothers who are receiving preventive services at the time of study enrollment and have histories of trauma, have symptoms of PTSD, without a history of psychotic disorder, or current domestic violence or substance abuse
• Have a child within the 2-9 age range, and are the child's primary caretaker
• Can communicate in English and/or Spanish

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who have a history of psychotic disorder and/or who meet current DSM-IV criteria for abuse of drug or alcohol
• Women who are experiencing domestic violence at the time of the assessment
• Pregnant women are excluded from this pilot study because they are a potentially particularly vulnerable population. However, women who become pregnant while participating in the study will not be excluded
• Women who report suicidal ideation in the past two weeks on the SCID, or have a history of a suicide attempt during the last year as reported during the SCID interview
• Children who meet diagnostic criteria for developmental disorders (e.g., autism and mental retardation), and/or have a history of childhood psychosis