Work

Immediate Effects of a School Readiness Intervention for Children in Foster Care

Year: 2013

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: RESEARCH FINDINGS: School readiness is a strong predictor of adjustment in elementary school and beyond. Children in foster care are at particular risk for academic and social difficulties in school. Limitations in self-regulatory skills and caregiver involvement among these children might contribute to a lack of school readiness. This study presents the immediate effects on school readiness of a targeted, short-term intervention designed to improve children's early literacy, prosocial, and self-regulatory skills during the summer before kindergarten entry: Kids in Transition to School (KITS). Using a randomized controlled trial design, 192 children in foster care were assigned to either an intervention or services as usual comparison condition. Multimethod, multiagent assessments were conducted immediately prior to and following the completion of the intervention. The results from structural equation modeling indicated that the intervention had significant, positive effects on early literacy and self-regulatory skills. PRACTICE: An efficacious, short-term, readily scalable, theoretically-based intervention targeted at specific vulnerabilities for children in foster care may help to improve their school readiness and eventual school adjustment.

Source: Early Education and Development

DOI: 10.1080/10409289.2013.736037

Authors: Katherine C. Pears, Philip A. Fisher, Hyoun K. Kim, Jacqueline Bruce, Cynthia V. Healey, Karen Yoerger

Institutions: Oregon Social Learning Center, University of Oregon

Language: English

Topic: Early Childhood Education and Development

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Drug Abuse