Family-Centered Intervention for Young Children at-risk for Language and Behavior Problems

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of a family-centered intervention that involved parents in weekly assessments and daily routine activities for promoting young children's language and behavior. Forty-one 3-5-year-old children at-risk for language and behavior problems, recruited from three developmental pre-schools, were randomly assigned to a control and an intervention group that received parent-professional support. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were used to examine whether groups differed on post-test scores on the Test of Early Language Development-Third Edition and Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory, using pre-test scores as a covariate. Results showed that children in the intervention group outperformed children in the control group on both tests. The study indicated that familycentered intervention is an effective method for empowering parents to identify and implement concrete solutions to their children's problems, especially when done as part of a professional collaboration.

Preparing home visitors to partner with families of infants and toddlers

“…Planning home visits together with parents also promotes adult learning by offering opportunities to increase parents' self-efficacy about supporting their children's development (ZTT, 2012). Home visitors need to know how to collaborate with families in ways that are respectful of a variety of cultural practices (Barrera & Corso, 2003) while guiding parents in choosing home visit topics and planning activities to do with their children (Chao, Bryan, Burstein, & Ergul, 2006;Dunst & Dempsey, 2007). This will keep home visits focused on the child outcomes and parenting interactions that parents value most.…”

Associations between family characteristics and parental empowerment in the family, family service situations and the family service system

“…). Research among the families of children with some conditions indicates that parents' increased empowerment is associated with improved resources (Øien et al ., ), family cohesion, relations and functioning (Scheel and Rieckmann, ) and reduced parenting stress (Øien et al ., ) as well as with children's improved psychosocial, physical and social development (Chao et al ., ). Positive associations have been found between parental empowerment and parents' experiences of the accessibility of basic services and sufficiency of support (Halme et al ., ).…”

“…Studies have investigated parental empowerment in ambulatory care (Tourigny et al 2008) or in paediatric rehabilitation (Øien et al, 2009) or in families with children with conditions such as cerebral palsy (Rentinck et al, 2009) or diabetes (Robinson et al 2011). Research among the families of children with some conditions indicates that parents' increased empowerment is associated with improved resources (Øien et al, 2009), family cohesion, relations and functioning (Scheel and Rieckmann, 1998) and reduced parenting stress (Øien et al, 2009) as well as with children's improved psychosocial, physical and social development (Chao et al, 2006). Positive associations have been found between parental empowerment and parents' experiences of the accessibility of basic services and sufficiency of support .…”

Efficacy of the portage early intervention programme ‘growing: birth to three’ for children born prematurely

“…Bakermans- Kranenburg, Van Ijzendoorn, & Juffer, 2003), on-going monitoring of growth and challenges (e.g. Chao, Bryan, Burstein, & Ergul, 2006), as well as emphasis on decreasing stress and anxiety (e.g. Meyer et al, 1994) have all been found to be effective components of early intervention programmes.…”