Thank you so much for your interest! Parents/guardians can complete a brief study interest form using this link. 

Once the form is completed, our research team will reach out to you to explain the study more in detail and for a phone screening for study eligibility!

Because of increased risks of COIVD-19 transmission from in-person appointments, we have developed a modified process for participation in this study.

• • After parents complete the Study Interest Form, we will make a phone call for screening their child (or children). 
• • We will set up a Zoom meeting to obtain informed consent electronically.
• • We will drop off Study Kits labeled with your child’s name and your name to the child’s preschool (or another location of your choice), and teachers will give you the study kits at your child’s pickup.
• • Research Coordinators will set up a Zoom meeting with parents to guide hair sampling.
• • We will send parents a secure, encrypted online link to complete the study questionnaires (or paper copies) in the language of your choice.
• • We are available via email, phone call, or additional Zoom meetings to help parents with the completion of the study questionnaires, if needed.

There are minimal to no risks for participating in this study.

Hair samples are obtained by using a hair trimmer, which is painless and non-invasive. The hair trimmer does not use sharp blades, so it cannot cause any injury to the skin.

Each participant in the study will assigned a study ID that is strictly private and confidential. Therefore, any information collected by the surveys or questionnaires cannot be linked back to the child or parent by any kind of identification (such as name, address, and/or date of birth, etc.).

Parents will enter study information through a secure, encrypted online link that CANNOT be accessed by anyone else.

All paper forms will be stored in a secure building, within a locked room, and inside a locked cabinet. Therefore, all your information is completely secure and confidential.

Also, the hair samples will NOT be analyzed for any genetic information or drug levels (prescription or non-prescription).

The study benefits are related to helping establish ranges for hair cortisol and hair oxytocin in healthy children aged 1-6 years. These "normative" levels will help us to define the stress levels for children in the hospital or the children in adverse conditions.

In addition, each participating child will receive a "Junior Scientist Certificate," and families will receive gift cards of $50 for each participating child, and up to $25 for parent participation.