What Makes a Difference: Early Head Start Evaluation Findings in a Developmental Context [Paperback]

A randomized trial evaluated the efficacy of 17 Early Head Start (EHS) programs. 3,001 low-income families with a pregnant women or an infant under 12 months were assigned to a treatment or control group. Data were collected when children were 1, 2, 3, and 5 years old. Analyses examined (1) impacts at ages 2 and 3 (while services were being offered) and at age 5, and (2) contributions of early education experiences across children's first 5 years of life.

Child outcomes included cognition, language, attention, behavior problems, and health; maternal outcomes included parenting, mental health, and employment

I. BACKGROUND LITERATURE REVIEW PERTAINING TO THE EARLY

HEAD START STUDY
Helen H. Raikes, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, and John M. Love

II. DESIGN AND METHODS IN THE EARLY HEAD START STUDY
Richard A. Faldowski, Rachel Chazan-Cohen, John M. Love, and Cheri Vogel

III. IMPACTS OF EARLY HEAD START PARTICIPATION ON CHILD AND PARENT

OUTCOMES AT AGES 2, 3, AND 5
Cheri Vogel, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Anne Martin, and Mary M. Klute

IV. FAMILY SUBGROUPS AND IMPACTS AT AGES 2, 3, AND 5: VARIABILITY BY RACE/ETHNICITY AND DEMOGRAPHIC RISK
Helen H. Raikes, Cheri Vogel, and John M. Love

V. PROGRAM SUBGROUPS: PATTERNS OF IMPACTS FOR HOME-BASED, CENTER-BASED, AND MIXED-APPROACH PROGRAMS
Rachel Chazan-Cohen, Helen H. Raikes, and Cheri Vogel

VI. LINKS BETWEEN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION EXPERIENCES BIRTH TO AGE 5 AND PREKINDERGARTEN OUTCOMES
Rachel Chazan-Cohen and Ellen E. Kisker

VII. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS
Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, John M. Love, Helen H. Raikes, and Rachel Chazan-Cohen