Recent work suggests that differences in functional brain development are already identifiable in 6- to 9-month-old infants from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds. Investigation of early SES-related differences in neuro-cognitive functioning requires the recruitment of large and diverse samples of infants, yet it is often difficult to…

This secondary analysis of the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, a randomized study of program participation of children and families in Early Head Start (that is, enrolled in programming prior to children's first birthdays) investigated sociodemographic (race and ethnicity, income level, and maternal education level) and program…

Looks at evaluations of the program to frame a discussion of the troubled history of Head Start and its current favored position. (IRT)

Steps involved in developing a high quality child development program are outlined and discussed briefly. They are: (1) determining what kind of program to provide (information and referral, family-centered, community-centered or a combination); (2) establishing priorities (a priority checklist is included); (3) identifying existing resources in…

Compared a center-based early intervention program for disabled children and the same program with a parent training-support component. Found no immediate or long-term benefits in child or family functioning for parent component participants in the first four years of follow-up. Concludes however, that parents should still be involved in…

The Child Care Program was evaluated in terms of developmental activities, parent involvement, staff development, and supportive services. Results from the Developmental Behavior Checklist (DBC) indicated that the Child Care Program's performance was better than the average of the other programs in language, for all age groups. Also indicated was…

A national indifference to children is indicated by the system of foster child care and by the treatment of mental retardates. Another manifestation is the attack on Head Start. Criticism based on the program's failure to raise standardized intelligence or aptitude scores is misplaced. Head Start is a broad developmental program having many…

Examined parental satisfaction with and involvement in intervention services of Child Development Centre at City Hospital in Birmingham, England. Found general satisfaction, but also that parents want more of a role in the initial assessment meeting, welcome the chance to help decide upon service quality, and appreciate help with issues such as…

The Arizona Head Start-Public School Transition Project was one of 31 federally created programs designed to improve low-income children's transition from Head Start to public schools through the third grade, making earlier interventions, and promoting continuity with the participation of parents, teachers, and community members. The Transition…

The Kansas City, Missouri, School District's Early Childhood Development program consists of the Parents as Teachers (PAT) and Early Learning Centers (ELC) programs. Both PAT and the ELC programs have a screening component, with PAT screening children from 12 to 36 months of age and ELC screening 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children. The ELC…

The Philadelphia Prekindergarten Head Start Program is a child development program for three- and four-year old children from low-income families funded through the Philadelphia Anti-Poverty Action Commission. The approach stresses an interacting and multidisciplinary attempt to improve the child's physical and emotional health, his family…