ERIC Number: EJ1128988
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Feb
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
Promoting Child Development through Group-Based Parent Support within a Cash Transfer Program: Experimental Effects on Children's Outcomes
Fernald, Lia C. H.; Kagawa, Rose M. C.; Knauer, Heather A.; Schnaas, Lourdes; Guerra, Armando Garcia; Neufeld, Lynnette M.
Developmental Psychology, v53 n2 p222-236 Feb 2017
We examined effects on child development of a group-based parenting support program ("Educación Inicial" - EI) when combined with Mexico's conditional cash transfer (CCT) program ("Prospera," originally 'Oportunidades" and "Progresa"). This cluster-randomized trial included 204 communities (n = 1,113 children in final sample), stratified by community indigenous status, and assigned to receive either: (T[subscript 0]) CCT only; (T[subscript 1]) CCT plus availability of EI in the community; or (T[subscript 2]) [subscript 1] plus promotion of the EI program by the CCT program. Interviews were conducted with the mother or primary caregiver of each child at baseline (2008, children 0-18 months old), and at follow-up (2012, children 3-5 years old); the intervention began after baseline and continued for all eligible households. Cognitive development was assessed with the Extended Ages and Stages Questionnaire (baseline) and the McCarthy Scales of Children's Development (follow-up); assessors were blinded to treatment. All analyses were intention to treat. There were significant effects on child development when EI received support and promotion from the CCT program (T[subscript 2] vs. T[subscript 0]: General Cognitive Index, ß = 3.90; 95% CI [0.51, 7.30], Verbal Score, ß = 4.28; 95% CI [0.51, 8.05], and Memory Score, ß = 4.14; 95% CI [0.62, 7.66]), effects equivalent to 0.26-0.29 SD. There were no significant benefits when the programs operated independently (T[subscript 1] vs. T[subscript 0]). In stratified analyses, EI showed significant effects in indigenous communities only. We found consistent results in regressions controlling for covariates, with some reductions in magnitude of differences. Our findings suggest that group-based, parenting support programs can improve child outcomes within the context of a CCT, but only when the 2 programs are integrated and mutually supportive.
Descriptors: Child Development, Welfare Services, Poverty Programs, Family Programs, Program Effectiveness, Parents, Interviews, Followup Studies, Cognitive Development, Group Activities, Indigenous Populations, Parent Education, National Programs, Foreign Countries, Young Children, Statistical Analysis
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Mexico
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: McCarthy Scales of Childrens Abilities
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A