Minority preschool children from families of low income who took part in a comprehensive school-based intervention seem to have coped more successfully, well into adulthood – educationally, criminally and economically – according to an article in
The authors state that early childhood interventions have demonstrated consistent encouraging effects on children’s health and well-being. Programs that have been given the biggest boost in public funding are preschool ones, primarily for at-risk 3 to 4 year-olds – these programs offer both educational and family services in a center-based environment. The Child-Parent Center Program in Chicago is one such intervention. It commences at preschool and goes through to third grade. Included are instruction by trained teachers, excellent child-to-staff ratios, health and nutrition services, in addition to an intensive parent program. The parent program includes classroom involvement, field trips and home visits.
Arthur J. Reynolds, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and team examined the lasting effects of the Child-Parent Program. They compared 1,539 low-income minority children, born in 1979-1980, who had all taken part in programs at 25 sites between 1986-1986, to 550 children who participated in other full-day kindergarten programs offered to low-income families. The children were followed up till they were 24 years old.
Here are some observations the team made regarding the 24-year-olds who had participated in the Child-Parent Center when they were kids:
— 71.4% of them completed high school, compared to 63.7% from the other group
— 70.2% had health insurance coverage, compared to 61.5% from the other group
— 16.5% had been arrested for a felony, compared to 21.1% from the other group
— 12.8% had depressive symptoms, compared to 17.4% from the other group
— 42.7% were working full time, compared to 36.4% from the other group
— 13.8% had been arrested for violent offenses, compared to 17.9% from the other group
— 4.4% received disability assistance compared to 7% from the other group
The authors added “Because expenditures for the medical care and justice systems comprise roughly 20 percent of the gross domestic product, the potential cost savings to governments and taxpayers of early childhood prevention programs are considerable.”
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(8):730-739
Written by: Christian Nordqvist