Pediatric Parenting Support in Flint

Public health disasters have disproportionate impacts on low income communities, through pathways that add to those of poverty and associated stressors, and act over extended periods. Very young children are highly vulnerable to long-term impacts on development and mental health in the context of parenting challenges following disasters, yet frequently receive the least attention and resources. This study will test the role of universal parenting support in enhancing young children's development and mental health in Flint, Michigan following the Flint Water Crisis.

There are three specific aims of this study: Specific Aim 1: Characterize participants' experience of the FWC using ecological (neighborhood-level), geocoded STYH data, ecological indicators of water quality and parent self-report measures. These metrics will be obtained from Speak to Your Health (STYH) survey, a biennial community survey including neighborhood-level measures of stress collected before, during and after the FWC. Specific Aim 2: Assess impacts of strengths-based parenting support (VIP) after a disaster compounding chronic poverty (FWC). Specific Aim 3: Assess variation in VIP impacts in relation to FWC experience.