Implementation and evaluation of a social and emotional learning program for children of parents with substance use disorder
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN98416613 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN98416613 |
| Sponsor | The Ohio State University |
| Funder | OneOhio Recovery Foundation |
- Submission date
- 16/03/2026
- Registration date
- 19/03/2026
- Last edited
- 18/03/2026
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Children that have at least one parent with a substance use disorder (SUD) are at an increased risk of experiencing developmental delays and mental health problems. This study is testing the impact of a social emotional learning (SEL) program on children ages 5 to 11 years old that have a parent(s) with substance use disorder (SUD). We will look at how the program, Emotional ABCs, affects emotional literacy, coping skills, and emotional and behavioral functioning in children that complete the program versus children that do not complete the program. We will also assess the reach, adoption, and implementation of the program. Moreover, the study will examine the costs associated with implementing the Emotional ABCs in existing specialized dockets and substance use treatment programs.
Who can participate?
Children between the ages of 5 years old and 11 years old may participate, along with their adult caregiver. Children must have one parent that is involved in a specialized docket or a treatment program for substance use disorder. All participants must be fluent in English. Caregivers must be able to provide informed consent, and children must be able to provide informed assent. Children are unable to participate if they are already part of a SEL program or if they have certain medical conditions.
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group of children will complete the Emotional ABC's program, while the other group will not. All participants will meet with the study team three times over the course of six months. During each of these meetings, caregivers will take a survey (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) while the child completes a series of activities with the study team. The activities explore the children's existing coping skills and ability to identify feelings. A subset of participants in the intervention group will be randomly selected to participate in an interview to explore their views of the program.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Children that complete the Emotional ABCs program may learn skills to help them cope with stress. The risks for participating in this study are low. Participants may experience stress when completing assessments, but it is expected to be no more than the stress experienced in day-to-day life. Participants may withdraw from the study at any time.
Where is the study run from?
The study is run by a team within the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The first participant was enrolled in the study in October, 2025. The study will continue recruiting until February, 2027 and all data collection is expected to be complete by August, 2027.
Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by the OneOhio Recovery Foundation (USA)
Who is the main contact?
The main contact is Dr. Lindsay Sullivan, lindsay.sullivan@osumc.edu
Contact information
Principal investigator, Scientific, Public
1072B Graves Hall
333 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus
43210
United States of America
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-8079-0388 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +1 614-366-1963 |
| Lindsay.Sullivan@osumc.edu |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Allocation | Randomized controlled trial |
| Masking | Open (masking not used) |
| Control | Uncontrolled |
| Assignment | Cluster |
| Purpose | Treatment |
| Scientific title | Enhancing social-emotional well-being in children of parents with substance use disorder |
| Study objectives | 1. Determine the effectiveness of the intervention in improving emotional literacy, coping skills, and emotional and behavioral functioning in children ages 5-11 with a parent with SUD. 2. Evaluate the implementation process and identify factors associated with the uptake, implementation, adaptation, and sustainability of the intervention. 3. Determine the costs of program implementation and maintenance. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 02/10/2025, Institutional Review Board at The Ohio State University (15 E. 15th Avenue, 4th Floor, Columbus, 43201, United States of America; +1 614-688-8457; BehavioralIRBInfo@osu.edu), ref: 2025B0043 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Social-emotional well-being in children of parents with substance use disorder |
| Intervention | The intervention, Emotional ABCs, is a skill based SEL curriculum for children ages 4-11 years old designed to empower children with requisite knowledge and skills to manage their emotions confidently and successfully. The curriculum includes sequential, short videos, and interactive activities as well as offline skill-building activities, games, and rewards that reinforce newly taught skills. The Emotional ABCs curriculum includes 10 units, each with a set of lessons, rewards, and certificates. Children in the intervention group will be instructed to complete all 10 units within 10 weeks. The program caters to learners at different levels of proficiency and was designed in a format that enables children to complete the program with minimal supervision. Prior studies show that completing Emotional ABCs significantly improved children’s social emotional competence compared to those who did not complete the program, with SEL scores three times higher in those who completed the program than those who did not complete the program. Children will be randomized into the intervention and control group at a 1:1 ratio using a block randomized design stratified by sex to ensure balanced enrollment is achieved throughout the study. Randomization block sizes will be n = 10 (i.e., n = 5/arm). This strategy will help ensure balance on sex and study arm throughout the duration of the trial enrollment. When multiple members of a sibling group are eligible, one sibling per family will be randomly selected to participate in the study. Children and caregivers in the control group will have no access to the Emotional ABCs online platform. Control children will receive access to the Emotional ABCs program at the end of their study participation. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Completion date | 31/08/2027 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 5 Years |
| Upper age limit | 11 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 100 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Child aged 5-11 years old at time of study enrollment 2. Child must have a parent enrolled in an Ohio specialized docket or treatment program 3. Child must live with current caregiver for at least one month at the time of study enrollment 4. Adequate proficiency in English 5. Caregiver has a phone that can receive SMS text message |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Child is enrolled in another social emotional learning (SEL) program 2. Child has a history of severe or profound intellectual disability, cognitive impairment, or psychiatric disorder |
| Date of first enrolment | 03/11/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 28/02/2027 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United States of America
Study participating centres
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Editorial Notes
18/03/2026: Trial's existence confirmed by Institutional Review Board at The Ohio State University.
