Can a Scalable Parenting Program Improve Children's Readiness for School? An Evaluation of the LENA Start Program
William Marsh Rice University
Summary
The objective of the project is to implement the LENA Start Program at the Alief The objective of the project is to implement the LENA Start Program at the Alief Independent School District in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the study is to learn how maternal expectations about language development influence the child's language development. Also, the study will evaluate how much the mothers believe can affect their child's language development. More specifically, the program implementation will serve as a model that other school districts can readily replicate.
Description
The procedures for this study are broken down into four sections. First, we explain how the LENA Start program lottery will randomly assign participants to the control or treatment group. Next, we explain the LENA Start program that the randomly selected study participants will attend. Then, we explain how the LENA system will be used to measure the child's language environment. Finally, we explain the two meetings parents will attend before and after participation in the LENA Start program as part of the evaluation study, including the instruments used for baseline and endline data collection…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 1–2 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: Eligible adult participants include parents who meet all the criteria listed below. 1. Must be 18 years old or older. 2. Must have a child between 16 and 30 months old as of September 1, 2022. 3. Must speak English or Spanish as their native language. 4. Must live in the catchment area of Alief Independent School District. Children of the adult participants enrolled in the study are eligible to participate. The children must meet all the criteria below. 1\. Must be between 16 and 30 months old as of September 1, 2022 2. Must speak English or Spanish as their native langu…
Interventions
- BehavioralUsual care
This arm receives usual care (control group)
- BehavioralLENA Star Program sessions
LENA Start is an evidence-based community program designed to engage families and help them learn how to increase conversation with their children during the first few years of life.
Location
- Alief ISDHouston, Texas