http://www.researchforum.org/project_general_167.html

Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project

General Information

View a brief abstract of this project.

View a complete, printer-friendly profile of this project.
Evaluator(s) Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Investigator(s) John Love (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.)
Ellen Kisker (Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.)
Jeanne Brooks-Gunn (Columbia University Teachers College)
 
Domain Child/Family
Status Completed with continuing analysis
Duration Jan 1998 - Jan 2001
Type Research and/or Program Evaluation
Program/Policy Description Project goal is to assess impacts of Early Head Start programs, encourage a new generation of research for understanding the role of program and contextual variations, and create a foundation for a series of longitudinal research studies.

The Early Head Start program is for low-income pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers up to age three. It is designed to produce outcomes in four domains:
1) children’s development (including health, resiliency, social competence, and cognitive and language development);
2) family development (including parenting and relationships with children, the home environment and family functioning, family health, parent involvement, and economic self-sufficiency);
3) staff development (including professional development and relationships with parents);
and
4) community development (including enhanced child care quality, community collaboration, and integration of services to support families with young children).

Notes No notes reported.
 
Last Updated 08/03/04
Type of Summary Unreviewed
Contact(s) John Love (jlove@mathematica-mpr.com)
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
P.O. Box 2393
(T) (609) 799-3535
(F) (609) 799-0005
Submitter(s) Research Forum Staff (info@researchforum.org)
National Center for Children In Poverty
215 West 125th St, 3rd Fl
(T) (646)284-9600
(F) not reported

Populations Studied

Target Population Children
Subgroups Analyzed Single parent families
Two-parent families
Low-wage workers
Children 1-6
Children younger than 1 (infants)
Sample Size and Unit Infants and toddlers in approximately 3,000 low-income families.
Random assignment to Early Head Start (program group) and non-parental child care (comparison group).
Number in each group not reported.
Execution Not reported

Sites Studied

Includes both urban and rural settings:

Russellville, Arkansas;
Venice, California;
Denver, Colorado (2 programs);
Marshalltown, Iowa;
Kansas City, Kansas;
Jackson, Michigan;
New York City, New York;
Kansas City, Missouri;
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
Sumter, South Carolina;
McKenzie, Tennessee;
Logan, Utah;
Alexandria, Virginia;
Kent, Washington;
Sunnyside, Washington; and
Brattleboro, Vermont

Program Components, Policies, and Activities Evaluated

Educational activities

Social/Support services

Administration/Implementation

Variation in program components across sites? No

Outcomes Assessed

Service utilization

Program implementation

Family and relationship outcomes

Community Outcomes

Child Outcomes

Types of Studies

Type Impact Study (Controlled Experiment)
 
Type Descriptive/Analytical Study
 
Type Implementation/Process Study
 

Data Sources

Source Administrative data
 
Source Developmental assessments/screenings
 
Source Direct observations of child interactions
 
Source Field Research
 
Source Interview
 
Source Program descriptions and documents
 
Source Survey
 

Findings Available

Interim Impact Findings
Final Impact Findings

Recommendations

Existing Publications

02/01/98 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Overview of the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project Mathematica
12/01/99 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Leading the Way: Characteristics and Early Experiences of Selected Early Head Start Programs, Volume II: Program Profiles Mathematica
09/01/99 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Measuring Father Involvement in the Early Head Start Evaluation: A Multidimensional Conceptualization Mathematica
01/01/01 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Building Their Futures: How Early Head Start Programs are Enhancing the Lives of Infants and Toddlers in Low-Income Families Mathematica
06/01/01 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Building Their Futures: How Early Head Start Programs Are Enhancing the Lives of Infants and Toddlers in Low-Income Families: Technical Report Mathematica
06/01/02 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Making a Difference In The Lives of Infants and Toddlers and Their Families: The Impacts of Early Head Start Volume 1: Final Technical Report Mathematica
02/01/02 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project:Early Head Start: A Dynamic New Program for Infants and Toddlers and Their Families Mathematica
02/01/02 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Understanding implementation in Early Head Start Programs: Implications for Policy and Practice Mathematica
02/01/02 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Links Between Childbearing Age and Observed Maternal Behaviors with 14-month-olds in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project Mathematica
12/01/02 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Pathways to Quality and Full Implementation in Early Head Start Programs Mathematica
08/01/02 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Father Involvement in Early Head Start Programs Mathematica
05/01/03 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Understanding Fathering: The Early Head Start Study of Fathers of Newborns Mathematica
01/01/03 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Depression in the Lives of Early Head Start Families: Research Brief Mathematica
01/01/03 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Child Care: Research Brief Mathematica
03/01/03 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Kansas and Missouri Early Head Start Programs: Kansas City, KS and Sedalia, Missouri Zero to Three
02/01/04 Early Head Start Research & Evaluation Project: The Role of Early Head Start Programs in Addressing the Child Care Needs of Low Income Families...: Influence on Child Care Use and Quality Mathematica
01/01/04 Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project: Health and Disability Services in Early Head Start: Are Families Getting Needed Services? Mathematica

215 W. 125th Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10027 646.284.9600     info@nccp.org
This Page Copyright © 2002 The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, for its National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP). All Rights Reserved.