The design of CCDP relied heavily on an approach in which a case manager was responsible for coordinating the service needs of a group of families.

Sample characteristics: 43% children were African-American, 26% white, 26% Hispanic 4% other. 84% children used English as 1st language, 14% used Spanish, 2% used other. 35% mothers were teenagers. 51% mothers had not graduated from high school. 44% of households had annual income of $5,000 or less and 85% had a total income under $10,000 at time of recruitment.

Note: CCDP families could not be forced to participate in the program. Thus, analysis of participation patterns shows that some program families participated for a very brief period (<6 mo)(approximately 17%), some for moderate amounts of time (2 or 3 yrs) (approximately 50%), and some for the full five years (33%).