Dear Colleague,
I hope that this letter finds you doing well. I am writing to make you aware and to
get your thoughts one some recent findings that I have come across in my
current line of research. I have been looking at the connection between
poverty/adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) and developmental outcomes such
as emotional regulation, behavioral outcomes, socio-emotional outcomes,
academic outcomes, etc. In my research I found two intervention programs (Head
Start, Legacy) that come from different approaches, and both have had positive
results. I would like to first bring your attention to the two studies. I feel if used
synergistically these programs would be found to enhance each other in a way
that would benefit the child, the family unit, and the community.
There was a study conducted by Lee & Markey (2022) in which they were
interested in two things. First, do ACEs have an impact on developmental
outcomes; specifically cognitive, social, and health outcomes? Second, does the
Head Start program have an impact, if any, on the effects between ACEs and
cognitive, social, and health outcomes (Lee & Markey, 2022)? The data was
collected from the U.S. Head Start Impact Study (HSIS) (2022).
The sample size was 4,442, consisting of 2,646 children who were in the Head
Start program group, and 1,796 who were not in the the Head Start program (Lee
& Markey, 2022). Using regression analysis they found that ACEs had a significant
impact on cognitive, socio-emotional, and health outcomes (2022). Compared with
children who had a 1 ACE score, children with and ACE score of of 2 or 3, had
lower applied problem solving skills, lower social skills scores, and more
behaviors problems (2022). In regard to the impact of Head Start, interaction
analysis showed that those who enrolled in the program had higher academic
scores, better health outcomes, and fewer behavioral problems.
The second study (Barry et. al. 2022) looked at the impact of the Legacy for
Children (LC) program on the socio-emotional and behavioral development at 4 to
6 years post intervention. The mothers were first recruited for the program during
the prenatal phase of their pregnancy. The LC program was developed to help
improve the developmental outcomes of families living in poverty (2022).
The sample consisted of 364 mother-child dyads who had completed at least one
of the behavioral or socio-emotional outcome measures at the third grade follow-
up appointment (Barry et. al. 2022). Using bivariate analysis, researchers found
that mothers who were in the LC program reported fewer externalizing problems
and lower risk for adaptive skill problems (2022). Using regression analysis they
found that the children associated with the LC program had better outcomes
scores in externalizing and adaptive skills (2022).
The reason that I think these studies are interesting is because of the approach of
the programs. Both showed positive results in behavior and socio-emotional
outcomes (Lee & Markey, 2022, Barry et. al. 2022). The Head Start program was
established for children birth to five years who are economically disadvantaged
with the purpose of enhancing the child’s overall wellbeing (Lee & Markey, 2022).
It focuses on the child school readiness by helping the child and family with
education, health, nutritional, social, and other services (Lee & Markey, 2022).
The Legacy for Children (LC) program is a parent focused prevention program
(Barry et. al. 2022). The LC program is a group-based program that is based on
promoting maternal self-efficacy, supporting sensitive parent-child relationships,
and helping to create a sense of community among mothers (2022). Head Start
and LC together would seem to impact the child directly through the head start
program, the mother through the LC program, and as a result of both, the family
and the community. Your insights would be greatly appreciated.
References
Barry, C. et. al. (2022).Behavioral and Socio-emotional Outcomes of the Legacy for
ChildrenRandomized Control Trial to Promote Healthy Development of Children
Living
in Poverty, 4 to 6 Years Post-intervention, Journal of Developmental & Behavioral
Pediatrics, 43(1). a
Lee, K. & Markey, J. (2022). Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on
Developmental
Outcomes for Head Start eligible Low Income Children. Journal of Social Service
Research, 48(1), 45-62. https/doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2021.1951925
