Comprehensive Follow-up of Low Income Families. A Cluster-randomized Study

NCT03102775 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 48510 (nsd)
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 884
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 29

Brief Summary

In a cluster-randomized design, the study evaluates the effectiveness of a skill- training program for social work professionals with the aim of improving the follow-up of low income families within Norwegian labor and welfare services. While the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration are responsible for developing and implementing the program, researchers at Oslo and Akershus University College are conducting an independent evaluation of its effectiveness. By close follow up and better coordination of existing services the model aims to improve the financial and housing situation of the family, labor market attachment among the parents and the social inclusion of children. The cluster-randomized field experiment will take place over a 40-month period, involving 29 labor and welfare offices, 58 family coordinators and, based on estimations, 650 families. The research is funded by the Norwegian Labor and Welfare Administration. The project is financed by Labour and Welfare Administration and led by Ira Malmberg-Heimonen, Faculty of Social Sciences. Participants in the project are: Ira Malmberg-Heimonen (project leader), Anne Grete Tøge, Krisztina Gyüre, Knut Fossestøl, Marianne Rugkåsa, Berit Bergheim and Tone Liodden.

Conditions

Poverty

Keywords

poverty; unemployment; cluster-randomized; family-project

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Changes in the employment situation from baseline to follow-ups

  Percentage employed

  T2 (+12 months after baseline), T3 (+24 months) T4 (+36 months) -T5 (+48 months)

• Change in the housing situation between baseline and follow-up

  Objective and subjective estimations of housing quality

  T2 (+12 months after baseline)

• Change in the financial situation between baseline and follow-ups

  Income per month at follow-ups

  T2 (+12 months after baseline), T3 (+24 months) T4 (+36 months) T5 (+48 months)

• Change in children's situation from baseline to follow-up

  Participation in kindergarden and other free-time activities

  T2 (+12 months)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in professional competence between baseline and follow-up

  T2 (+18 months)

• Change in the level of working alliance between baseline and follow-up

  T2 (+18 months)

Other Outcomes (1)

• Changes in leaders competence between baseline and follow-up

  T2 (+18 months)

Study Arms (2)

Comprehensive follow-up program

EXPERIMENTAL

15 offices have been randomized to experimental group. Experimental group offices implement the HOLF model developed by the Labor and Welfare Administration

Other: Comprehensive follow-up program for low-income families

Local family projects

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

14 offices have been randomized to control group. these implement local family projects. These are developed based on local practice needs

Other: local family projects

Interventions

Comprehensive follow-up program for low-income families OTHER

The main follow-up areas within the HOLF-program is to improve employment, housing, financial situation of the children. Beside manuals, family coordinators participate in five seminars with home-based tasks in between. Alo a comprehensive supervision structure is implemented that follow the train the trainer model. Coordinators ought to work directly with th families, but also with other actors important to the family, such as child-welfare and school. Coordinators should use specific tools improving the quality of the meetings, such as forms for preparation of meetings, being goal-focused and empowering.

Comprehensive follow-up program

local family projects OTHER

The control group offices will develop local family projects, depending on local needs. they will also recruit and follow-up families.

Local family projects

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Each of the 29 offices identified a target group of families prior to randomization based on the following characteristics:
• reliance on social assistance as a main source of income at least for six of the latest 12 months, or
• received social assistance in addition to other types of welfare support at least for six of the latest 12 months, and
• have up to four children under the age of 16. Based on these criteria offices identified a total of 3201 families.

You may not qualify if:

• Families were excluded from participation in the project if:
• they participate in other comprehensive family projects
• one or both parents/caregivers are under treatment because of heavy substance abuse and/or serious mental disorders
• the child or the children are temporary placed in child welfare institutions or living with relatives or other caregivers.
• the family is under investigation by child welfare authorities, due to suspected child neglect or that a placement to new caregivers is in process.
• Based on these criteria 320 families were excluded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oslo Metropolitan University: lead
• Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration: collaborator

Study Sites (29)

NAV Asker

Asker, Norway

Location

NAV Bærum

Baerum, Norway

Location

NAV Bergenhus

Bergen, Norway

Location

NAV Fana

Bergen, Norway

Location

NAV Bodø

Bodø, Norway

Location

NAV Elverum

Elverum, Norway

Location

NAV Gjøvik

Gjøvik, Norway

Location

NAV Halden

Halden, Norway

Location

NAV Harstad

Harstad, Norway

Location

NAV Haugesund

Haugesund, Norway

Location

NAV Horten

Horten, Norway

Location

NAV Larvik

Larvik, Norway

Location

NAV Lillehammer

Lillehammer, Norway

Location

NAV Skjedsmo

Lillestrøm, Norway

Location

NAV Rana

Mo i Rana, Norway

Location

NAV Moss

Moss, Norway

Location

NAV Alna

Oslo, Norway

Location

NAV Bjerke

Oslo, Norway

Location

NAV Frogner

Oslo, Norway

Location

NAV Gamle Oslo

Oslo, Norway

Location

NAV Gruneløkka

Oslo, Norway

Location

NAV Nordstrand

Oslo, Norway

Location

NAV St. Hanshaugen

Oslo, Norway

Location

NAV Ringsaker

Ringsaker, Norway

Location

NAV Sandefjord

Sandefjord, Norway

Location

NAV Sandnes

Sandnes, Norway

Location

NAV Madla

Stavanger, Norway

Location

NAV Lerkendal

Trondheim, Norway

Location

NAV Værnes

Værnes, Norway

Location

Related Links

• homepage for the study

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: While the leaders and family-coordinators are aware of whether the office has been randomized to experimental or control group offices, the families are masked for this information. they are only aware of participating in a family project, but not if experimental or control condition.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor, Soc Sci dr.

Model Details: Cluster-randomized study. After baseline at office leader and family coordinator level as well as administrative data for families in target group, offices have been randomized to experimental and control group offices. The HOLF-model is implemeted in experimental group offices, while control group offices implement local family projects. Effects on families are analysed on the four main follow-up areas: employment, housing, financial situation and the social situation of the children.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2017
• First Posted: April 6, 2017
• Study Start: January 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2021
• Study Completion: December 30, 2021
• Last Updated: September 27, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NO (29)