A longitudinal study of 94 low-socioeconomic-status rural Appalachian and 67 middle-class Pennsylvania mothers with infants found that, contrary to expectations, low-SES rural mothers were comparable to middle-class mothers on maternal self-efficacy, significantly higher on responsive attitude to infant crying, and comparable or better on…

Describes five programs designed to reduce or prevent mental illness by providing support, skills training, and anticipatory guidance to parents of children up to five years of age. (Author/MJL)

Using the database from the Pennsylvania statewide evaluation of family literacy programs, researchers studied types of participation in the adult education component engaged in by various subgroups of clientele. Adult education achievement (as measured by standardized tests) was related to the intensity of participation and less so to duration…

This Kids Count special report examines brain development during infancy and early childhood in order to provide a basis for an informed discussion about the need for preventive programs to foster healthy child development. The report summarizes information on early brain development and how experience shapes neural connections. It focuses on the…

Parent behavior management and child social skills training programs have demonstrated efficacy in clinical research settings and are highly efficient treatment modalities. Few studies have examined their effectiveness and efficiency within the typical clinical setting. The current paper examines the use of a concurrent parent behavior management…

This study investigates three hypotheses: (1) there is a positive relationship between maternal satisfaction with substitute child care and maternal work satisfaction; (2) there is no relationship between satisfaction with substitute child care and the quality of mother-child interaction; and (3) there is a positive relationship between maternal…

Say Yes to Education is a scholarship guarantee program that pledges to young children and their families a fully paid, post-secondary education along with academic and social supports that follow children throughout their elementary and high school careers. Since its inception in 1987, the Say Yes to Education program has "adopted"…

This study identifies home environment factors that may contribute to children's academic achievement. The study involved observing and interviewing 59 families of a group of higher achieving and lower achieving fifth and sixth grade students of Puerto Rican descent residing in southeastern urban Pennsylvania. The following factors that may affect…

This study of levels of self-esteem in a sample of black disadvantaged children was conducted to investigate factors known from other studies to facilitate the development and maintenance of a favorable self-concept despite adverse environmental conditions and skin color. The child subjects were selected from six classes of fifth grade black…

Describes a parent education program in a rural Pennsylvania school district that uses a learning packet that contains (1) information about child development; (2) ideas for fostering child development, especially in language; and (3) suggestions for parenting. (BB)

Developed by Project TRAC--Training/Resources Acquisition and Control, the three part guide is for parents of multiply handicapped children. Part 1 examines a public school training program for multiply handicapped children. Part 2 gives suggestions for activities that can make home life easier and at the same time provide learning experiences for…

After observing the lack of parental involvement in children's educational development among clients, an instructor determined to learn if offering incentives to parents to work with their child/children would increase parental involvement. Working in an adult basic education/General Educational Development parental assistance program with…

This publication presents the family literacy program performance standards for which all Pennsylvania family literacy programs (both Pennsylvania Adult Basic and Family Literacy Education Act 143 and Even Start) will be held accountable. It begins with an implementation plan that discusses the legislative background of the performance standards…

This issue of WIN (Welfare Information Network) Issue Notes addresses what populations programs that provide services to incarcerated and released noncustodial parents should target, the support services that should be provided, and where and when these services can be most beneficial. Section 1 offers background. Section 2 answers these policy…

The Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce addressed family literacy through the promotion of a "Jump into Reading" videotape and its accompanying brochure in local businesses and schools as well as throughout Pennsylvania. Jump into Reading was designed to teach parents the importance of reading aloud to their children and offer techniques…