Scientific discoveries repeatedly confirmed the importance of brain growth during the first 5 years of child life. To support early childhood development, California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998 to collect a 50 cent per pack tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products. Kern County Children and Families Commission (First 5 Kern) was…

The author describes Minnesota's Early Childhood Family Education program for all children from birth to kindergarten and their parents. Topics include the types of activities each local program undertakes, administration and planning, and financing. A list of important program attributes is included. (CH)

Objectives: To assess the impact of a voluntary, paraprofessional home visiting program on promoting child health and development and maternal parenting knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Methods: This collaborative, experimental study of 6 Healthy Families Alaska (HFAK) programs enrolled 325 families from 1/00 to 7/01, randomly assigned them to…

Discusses the Minnesota Early Childhood Family Education program and the Missouri Parents as Teachers program as examples of state-sponsored family education programs. Argues that such programs should use the school as the most approppriate setting for family support and education. (CH)

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's…

This report, seventh of eight in a series, discusses the views of California parents about the significance of a child's early years, their preparation for parenting, and how well their communities meet their child care needs. The California Center for Health Improvement's (CCHI) Children and Youth Survey asked California parents several questions…

The Missouri Parents as Teachers project developed in response to a 1984 state mandate requiring parent education and serves about 85,000 families with children, ages birth through 4. Components include home visits, group meetings, and early childhood developmental screenings. Discussed are the project's historical perspective, project evaluation,…

Significant progress has been made during the biennium 1926-1928 in the parent education movement, which is one of the developing phases of adult education. This progress is due principally to the efforts of parents and their groups and to many national, State, and local public and private agencies. In several States, scattered and isolated…

This report offers an assessment of the status of child development programs in Vermont based on information gathered by the Interagency Council on Child Development which was created by the Vermont legislature in 1974. Program descriptions for each state department, division and agency represented on the Council, and several not represented, are…

This report details the evaluation of Target 2000, a South Carolina parent education program that involves parent and literacy training as well as social services for children and parents, and that is intended to increase parents' effectiveness as the primary teachers of their preschool children. The evaluation process described was shaped by the…

Organized in 1981 by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the "New Parents as Teachers" (NPAT) program was initiated to demonstrate the value of early, high quality parent education. More specifically, the NPAT program provides age-appropriate information on children's development; helps parents increase their…

Ways to approach the evaluation of South Carolina's Parent Education Program are examined. The program's purpose is to improve children's school success by strengthening the family, particularly during the children's first 5 years. Program goals are to: (1) demonstrate effective methods of parent training and support that will enable parents to…

Steven Barnett and Clive Belfield examine the effects of preschool education on social mobility in the United States. They note that under current policy three- and four-year-old children from economically and educationally disadvantaged families have higher preschool attendance rates than other children. But current programs fail to enroll even…

This resource guide is designed to help teachers assist pregnant and parenting teens, such as those enrolled in Graduation, Reality, and Dual-Role Skills (GRADS) programs, in achieving the competencies outlined in the GRADS Ohio Competency Analysis Profile. Introductory materials include information on use of the guide and resource material on two…

The federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau has launched a five-year initiative that will support state efforts to build comprehensive early childhood service systems. This initiative--the State Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Initiative (SECCS)--provides two year planning grants followed by three year implementation grants to the 50 state…