September 2017 – This case study published by the International Rescue Committee provides a look at the process of adapting and piloting Vroom for Syrian refugee parents and families. Vroom empowers parents and caregivers of young children to turn everyday moments into brain building moments.
While group-based parenting programs have been shown to be effective in a range of low-resource settings, such interventions are costly and logistically challenging in large-scale humanitarian crises where populations are dispersed across a range of contexts. Mobile technology and connectivity have become increasingly accessible, opening the door to new opportunities to help parents improve brain development right in their homes, and everyday lives. Vroom takes early brain science out of the lab and into the hands of parents in the form of easy, fun tips that layer onto existing routines like meal time, bathtime and time on the go. Vroom content is designed to be low-cost and scalable- harnessing the power of mobile technology through the Daily Vroom mobile application.
This report is intended for practitioners, policymakers, donors and community members, who may use the key findings and recommendations to inform future adaptations and leverage existing media platforms to deliver critical content to improve nurturing care.