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Variation in community intervention programmes and consequences for children and families: the example of Sure Start Local Programmes
Author(s) -
Melhuish Edward,
Belsky Jay,
Anning Angela,
Ball Mog,
Barnes Jacqueline,
Romaniuk Helena,
Leyland Alastair,
Research Team The NESS
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01705.x
Subject(s) - disadvantaged , staffing , psychology , intervention (counseling) , program evaluation , empowerment , government (linguistics) , child development , medical education , developmental psychology , nursing , economic growth , medicine , political science , psychiatry , economics , linguistics , philosophy , public administration
Background: An area‐based initiative, Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs), was established by the UK government to reduce social exclusion through improving the well‐being of children aged 0–3 years and their families in disadvantaged communities; a true community intervention in that all children under four and their families in specified areas served as targets of universal services. A national evaluation examined the links between variation in programme implementation and effectiveness. Methods: Data gathered from multiple sources produced measures of implementation in terms of proficiency, services and staffing. Measures of programme impact on child/parenting outcomes derived from multilevel models, controlling for child, family and area characteristics, were identified to demonstrate programme effectiveness. Results: Some modest linkage between programme implementation (e.g., proficiency, empowerment of parents and staff, identification of users) and effectiveness for child and parenting outcomes. Conclusions: Overall proficiency and specific aspects of implementation may influence effectiveness, which should guide the design of other child, family and community services.