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Understanding implementation in Early Head Start programs: Implications for policy and practice
Author(s) -
Paulsell Diane,
Kisker Ellen Eliason,
Love John M.,
Raikes Helen H.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.10001
Subject(s) - head start , early head start , process (computing) , quality (philosophy) , program evaluation , computer science , set (abstract data type) , process management , mental health , key (lock) , medical education , psychology , medicine , business , political science , computer security , developmental psychology , philosophy , epistemology , public administration , psychotherapist , programming language , operating system
The primary goal of the National Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project is to assess program implementation and the quality of key child development services in the study's 17 research programs. The evaluation team developed rating scales based on the Head Start Program Performance Standards and a process for rating key program elements, then synthesized a large amount of information about program implementation and quality into a concise set of ratings. The team used these ratings to examine programs' progress over time, interpret program impacts, and provide feedback to programs and technical assistance providers on implementation strategies. In this article, we present the rating scales and methods developed for assessing implementation and quality, describe the levels of implementation and quality attained four years after programs were funded, and discuss implications for policy and practice. ©2002 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.