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Title:	Early start : evaluation report
Author:	Fergusson, D.M. (David Murray); Horwood, L. J. (Leonard John); Ridder, Elizabeth; Grant, Hildegard
Publisher:	Early Start Project Ltd
Location:	Christchurch
Date:	2005
Description:	101 p. ; computer file : PDF format (864Kb) ; computer file : Microsoft Word format (1.38mb)
WWW:	Link to electronic version
ISBN / ISSN:	0478251262
Summary:	This report provides an evaluation of the Early Start programme, a home visitation strategy targeting at-risk families. This programme was born out of the concerns identified by the Christchurch Health and Development Study, namely the effect of childhood adversity and disadvantaged family environments on child outcomes. Many service providers were involved in the development of the Early Start programme, such as the Plunket Society, Child, Youth and Family Services, and the Family Help Trust. To evaluate the programme, researchers conducted a random trial involving 220 families involved in Early Start and a control group of 223 families with no connection to the programme. The findings indicate small but consistent benefits in undergoing the programme in factors such as reducing child abuse and neglect and improving child behavioural outcomes. However, the Early Start strategy had no effect on rates of partner violence. Limitations of the research and suggested improvements to the Early Start strategy are discussed, for example, focussing on outcomes for parents and families as a whole.
Topic Areas:	Intimate partner abuse, Child abuse and neglect, Families, Children, Social services, Prevention/intervention/treatment, Demographics/statistics, Parenting
Keywords:	CHILD DEVELOPMENT; INTERVENTION; PROGRAMMES; FAMILIES; PREVENTION; NEW ZEALAND; CHILD ABUSE; STATISTICS; SOCIAL SERVICES
MSD Identifier:	110217
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