Federal Grant Award Summary

Arizona State University received a $386,796 Project Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242), awarded June 1, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2029. The grant funds PILOT PEACE, a hybrid optimization-implementation pilot trial designed to evaluate intervention strategies protecting children's mental health amid post-separation and post-divorce interparental conflict (IPC). The study will employ the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of five candidate intervention components across a sample of 96 participants: varying intensity levels of IPC reduction approaches, inclusion of constructive IPC skills, inclusion of IPC resolution skills, parent-child relationship repair skills, and home practice support intensity. These components were selected based on empirical evidence of their potential to mitigate adverse child mental health outcomes associated with destructive interparental conflict.

The research addresses a critical public health gap by evaluating evidence-based intervention components for families experiencing high levels of IPC, particularly those referred through family courts where most current mandated parenting programs lack empirical support. Findings from this pilot study will generate preliminary data to inform the design of a future fully powered randomized controlled trial aimed at identifying the most effective and scalable combination of intervention components suitable for implementation within practical court system constraints. This research directly supports NIMH's mission to advance understanding and treatment of mental health conditions through rigorous basic and clinical research.