Beginning to "unpack" early childhood mental health consultation: Types of consultation services and their impact on teachers
The goal of the current study was to examine the impact of the frequency of two types of early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) activities (time spent in the class and time spent meeting with teachers) on teacher-child interactions, use of positive classroom-management techniques, and the intent to quit the childcare profession. We addressed these questions with a sample of 115 teachers from private childcare settings participating in a midlength (6-8 months) consultation partnership, using pre- and posttest data collected from structured classroom observations and teacher surveys. Results suggest that ECMHC time spent in the classroom was associated with less teacher punitiveness, permissiveness, and detachment, and more use of positive classroom-management strategies at the posttest assessment (controlling for baseline teacher behaviors). The frequency of meetings with teachers did not impact teacher-child interactions; however, in an exploratory analysis, the frequency of meetings with the teacher was associated with a reduction in teachers' intent to leave the profession of childcare. (author abstract)
Reports & Papers
Center-based Early Head Start and children exposed to family conflict
A randomized trial of 305 families that received Early Head Start program services and 305 families that did not to test the effects of high-quality center care on the aggression and emotion regulation among children exposed to family conflict in childhood
Reports & Papers
Does the quality of stimulation and support in the home environment moderate the effect of early education programs?
A study of the moderating influences of maternal emotional warmth and aspects of the home environment on the relationship between Early Head Start participation and measures of children's cognitive and psychosocial development at ages 3 and 5, based on data from 3,001 children
Reports & Papers
Early childhood mental health consultation: Promoting change in the quality of teacher-child interactions
An examination of the relationship between characteristics of early childhood mental health consultation and changes in the quality of teacher-child interactions, based on data from 141 early childhood teachers serving 3- to 5-year-olds in publically funded early education programs participating in the Arkansas Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Project
Reports & Papers
Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project
This project involves both a cross-site national study and local longitudinal studies of low-income families with young children in Early Head Start sites in 17 communities in the United States. The project was funded in two waves: Birth to Three (1996-2001) and Pre-Kindergarten Follow-Up (2001-2004). The five major components of the project are: an implementation study, an impact evaluation, local research studies, policy studies, and efforts toward continuous program improvement. The implementation study assessed the level and quality of implementation of EHS at each site, as well as variations across sites, with regard to five program areas: child development and health care; family partnerships; community involvement and partnerships; staff development; and program management. Results include a profile of each of the 17 research programs, their services and expected outcomes. The information gathered was critical for the development of the impact evaluation analyses and the identification of pathways to full implementation. The impact evaluation followed a random assignment, longitudinal design to examine how child, parent and family outcomes were influenced by EHS programs, as well as by variations in program approaches and community contexts, program implementation and services, and the characteristics of children and their families. The third component involves 16 local research projects conducted by 15 university-based researchers who partnered with Early Head Start research programs. Designed to investigate the unique outcomes and program functions of each Early Head Start program, these longitudinal studies continue through the second phase of the project, Pre-Kindergarten Follow-up (2001-2004). The policy studies component focuses on issues related to welfare reform, health and disabilities, child-care and fatherhood. The component of continuous program improvement consists of reports and presentations disseminating new information that can help all Early Head Start programs to increase their ability to meet the needs of families.
Major Research Projects
Effect of early intervention on 8-Year growth status of low-birth-weight preterm infants
A study of the effect of the Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP) educational intervention, delivered between birth and age 3, on the physical growth up to age 8 of low-birth-weight children, based on data collected through a randomized trial of 377 and intervention and 608 non-intervention children stratified by birth-weight categories
Reports & Papers
The Family Map: Structured family interview to identify risks and strengths in Head Start families
A presentation of the Family Map semistructured interview process for the assessment of the resources and needs of Head Start families
Reports & Papers
Head Start and unintended injury: The use of the Family Map interview to document risk
An examination the use of Family Map assessment tool during home visits to identify children at risk for unintended injury and an examination of the usefulness of the tool in the documentation of the relationship of participation in the Head Start program and safety-related parenting behaviors for 727 families of preschool children in two multi-center Head Start programs
Reports & Papers
Improved classroom quality and child behavior in an Arkansas early childhood mental health consultation pilot project
A study of the impact of an early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) on the classroom behavior of teachers and on children's behavior problems, initiative, self-control, and attachment, as well as an examination of teacher satisfaction with consultation services received, based on data from 193 teachers and 1,448 children in 14 intervention and 4 comparison sites
Reports & Papers
It takes time: Impacts of Early Head Start that lead to reductions in maternal depression two years later
A study of the effect of Early Head Start participation on levels of maternal depression at the time of school entry, based on data collected at 17 Early Head Start programs nationwide
Reports & Papers
Protecting young children: Identifying family substance use and risks in the home
A comparison of indicators of healthy child development for families who screened positive for substance use with those who did not on The Family Map, based on a sample of 1,105 families in 20 Head Start centers, and an evaluation of the parents' comfort and satisfaction with the screening and home visitation, based on data from parents at 6 of the centers
Reports & Papers
Testing maternal depression and attachment style as moderators of Early Head Start's effects on parenting
A study of the moderating influences of both maternal depression and attachment style on the relationship between Early Head Start participation and maternal supportiveness, intrusiveness, spanking, and perceived negative interactions, based on data collected from 947 mothers
Reports & Papers
