Tele-coaching for caregivers of young children with motor delays in rural communities - 1 project summary 2 children living in rural and underserved communities face persistent disparities in access 3…

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development awarded Ohio University $424,952 on June 9, 2026, under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865) to evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of ELEVATE (Early Learning & Engagement Via Access to Tele-Coaching), a caregiver-delivered physical therapy intervention delivered via telerehabilitation for infants and toddlers with or at risk for motor delays in rural communities.

The project will recruit 45 children and caregivers from two rural sites in Ohio and Montana, randomizing participants to immediate intervention or waitlist control. The intervention comprises twice-weekly telehealth physical therapy sessions and a structured home program delivered over eight weeks. Primary outcomes include child motor function and caregiver self-efficacy, assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and one month post-intervention. The evaluation will also assess intervention acceptability through caregiver satisfaction surveys and focus groups with caregivers and community stakeholders, and will explore caregiver and child engagement as a potential mechanism driving motor and self-efficacy improvements. Findings will inform design of a future multi-site comparative effectiveness trial comparing ELEVATE to usual care in underserved settings.

The award runs through March 31, 2028, with place of performance in Ohio.

Tele-coaching for caregivers of young children with motor delays in rural communities - 1 project summary 2 children living in rural and underserved communities face persistent disparities in access 3 to early rehabilitation services due to geographic isolation, provider shortages, and 4 socioeconomic barriers. These challenges are especially detrimental during the first three years 5 of life, when early intervention has the greatest potential to improve developmental outcomes. 6 physical therapy (PT) is a key component of early intervention for infants and toddlers with or at 7 risk for motor delays, yet many families face long waitlists or lack access to qualified providers. 8 elevate (early learning & engagement via access to tele-coaching) is an innovative, 9 caregiver-delivered PT intervention delivered via telerehabilitation. This project will evaluate the 10 efficacy, acceptability, and caregiver engagement of elevate for children aged 0-3 years with 11 or at risk for motor delays in rural communities. Forty-five children and caregivers will be recruited 12 from two rural sites in ohio and montana and randomized to immediate intervention or a waitlist 13 control group. The intervention includes twice-weekly telehealth PT sessions, and a structured 14 home program, delivered for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes include child motor function and 15 caregiver self-efficacy. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 1- 16 month post-intervention follow-up. We will also assess acceptability through caregiver satisfaction 17 surveys and focus groups with both caregivers and community stakeholders. Finally, we will 18 explore caregiver and child engagement as a potential mechanism of motor and self-efficacy 19 change. Findings will provide critical outcome data to inform a future multi-site comparative 20 effectiveness trial evaluating elevate versus usual care in underserved settings.