Retraction of "Home visiting impacts during the pandemic: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial of Child First" by Xia et al. (2023).

Abstract

Reports the retraction of "Home visiting impacts during the pandemic: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial of child first" by Samantha Xia, Mervett Hefyan, Meghan P. McCormick, Maya Goldberg, Emily Swinth and Sharon Huang (Journal of Family Psychology, 2023[Aug], Vol 37[5], 569-580). This article is being retracted at the request of the publisher, and the editor and all authors of the original article consented. The MDRC study team identified two caregivers who were enrolled at baseline but were, themselves, minors. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2023-81526-001.) Existing research has found that home visiting programs for families with young children can improve children's development and strengthen caregiver and family well-being. However, the pandemic created numerous challenges for home visiting programs, forcing them to deliver services online or in a hybrid format to respond to pandemic-related challenges. Questions remain about the impacts of these programs when delivered at-scale via a hybrid model, especially during this uniquely challenging time. The present study reports 12-month impacts from a randomized controlled trial of Child First-an evidence-based home visiting program that provides psychotherapeutic, parent-child intervention (children ages 0-5) embedded in a coordinated system of care-when implemented as a hybrid service. This study estimates impacts within four domains: families' receipt of services, caregiver psychological well-being and parenting, child behavior, and family economic well-being. After randomly assigning families (N = 226) to receive Child First or typical community services, the research team surveyed caregivers (N = 183) about a year after study enrollment. Results from regression models with site fixed effects revealed suggestive evidence that Child First reduced caregivers' job loss, residential mobility, and self-reported substance abuse, and increased receipt of virtual services during the pandemic. There were null impacts on caregivers' psychological well-being, families' involvement with the child welfare system, children's behaviors, and other indicators of economic well-being. Implications for future research and policy are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).