Bradley and The Miriam hospitals are pleased to announce that they have been awarded $4.2 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance Phase II of the groundbreaking Early Intervention to Promote Cardiovascular Health of Mothers and Children (ENRICH) program. This multi-phase study aims to enhance cardiovascular health and address health disparities affecting both mothers and children up to the age of 5.
In partnership with California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), Bradley and The Miriam hospitals will focus on reaching mothers and their young children from low socio-economic backgrounds, residing in low-resource rural or urban communities, and living in regions with elevated cardiovascular disease risk factors. This collaborative effort is designed to address and mitigate disparities in cardiovascular health, particularly in underserved populations.
“Maternal morbidity and mortality rates have risen across the United States, and cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death among pregnant and postpartum people,” said Stephanie Parade, PhD, director of early childhood research at Bradley Hospital. “There are deeply concerning racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality, cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease risk. Our goal with this initiative is to identify and implement effective interventions to counter these troubling trends.”
In Rhode Island, the ENRICH program will be implemented statewide. The research team will collaborate with the Rhode Island Department of Health’s existing home visiting program to engage families already receiving care, ensuring that the program is seamlessly integrated into existing services. Home visitors will provide education and support to help clients meet their goals related to several aspects of cardiovascular health including healthy eating, physical activity, and sleep.
“We recognize that home visiting programs offer a valuable opportunity to reduce health disparities,” said Rena Wing, PhD, director of The Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center at The Miriam Hospital. “By embedding our intervention into these established programs, we aim to foster cardiovascular health in young children that will have lasting benefits throughout their lives.”
The Phase II funding will support the implementation of an enhancement to home visiting designed to promote cardiovascular wellness among mothers and their children, further advancing the mission of the ENRICH program to reduce health inequities and improve long-term health outcomes.
For more information about the ENRICH program and its initiatives, please visit www.hvenrich.org.