Durham Connects is an evidence-based program that has been studied in a rigorous randomized controlled trial. Evaluations were conducted by the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University.

Durham Connects RCT Impact Evaluation Highlights at Infant Age 6- & 12-Months

Impacts at Infant Age 6 Months

Results from interviews with a random, representative subsample of 549 families at infant age 6-months suggest that random assignment to the Durham Connects (DC) program (vs. services as usual) was associated with:

• Greater Community Connections: DC families reported 16% more connections to community resources within the past three months.
• Utilization of Higher Quality Child Care: When using center-based care, DC families utilized higher quality care, as rated by the North Carolina 5-Star Child Care Rating System.
• Higher Quality Parenting Behaviors: DC mothers reported significantly more positive parenting behaviors with their infant (e.g., hugging, reading); Blinded research assistants independently rated DC-eligible mothers as providing higher quality parenting (sensitivity to, and acceptance of, the infant).
• Higher Quality Home Environments: Blinded research assistants independently rated DC-eligible families as having higher quality home environments (e.g., safety, books, toys, and learning materials).
• Better Mother Mental Health: DC mothers were 28% less likely to report possible clinical anxiety.
• Reduced Emergency Medical Care for Infants: DC mothers reported 35% less total infant emergency medical care (hospital overnights + emergency department and emergency doctor visits).

Infant Emergency Hospital Emergency Care at Age 12-Months

•  Hospital administrative records at infant age 12-months indicate that Durham Connects families had 50% less total emergency medical care utilization (ER visits + hospital overnights) across the first 12 months of life.

Click to read published results of Durham Connects evaluation studies in peer review publications.