Family Check-Up^® For Children

Model effectiveness research report last updated: 2021

Effects shown in research

Child development and school readiness

Findings rated high

Connell, A., Bullock, B. M., Dishion, T. J., Shaw, D., Wilson, M., & Gardner, F. (2008). Family intervention effects on co-occurring early childhood behavioral and emotional problems: A latent transition analysis approach. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 36(8), 1211-1225.

Family Check-Up^® For Children

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
Remaining in “normal” (no externalizing or internalizing), age 2 to 3	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	Early Steps Multisite Study Sample	Not available	Not available	Not available	OR = 3.75	Not available	Not available
Remaining in “normal” (no externalizing or internalizing), age 3 to 4	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	Early Steps Multisite Study Sample	Not available	Not available	Not available	OR = 1.94	Not available	Not available
Transition from comorbid (externalizing and internalizing) at age 2 to “normal” at age 3	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	Early Steps Multisite Study Sample	Not available	Not available	Not available	OR = 60.42	Not available	Not available
Transition from comorbid (externalizing and internalizing) at age 3 to “normal” at age 4	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	Early Steps Multisite Study Sample	Not available	Not available	Not available	OR = 167.80	Not available	Not available
Transition from externalizing at age 2 to “normal” at age 3	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	Early Steps Multisite Study Sample	Not available	Not available	Not available	OR = 0.89	Not available	Not available
Transition from externalizing at age 3 to “normal” at age 4	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	Early Steps Multisite Study Sample	Not available	Not available	Not available	OR = 0.89	Not available	Not available
Transition from internalizing at age 2 to “normal” at age 3	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	Early Steps Multisite Study Sample	Not available	Not available	Not available	OR = 1.01	Not available	Not available
Transition from internalizing at age 3 to “normal” at age 4	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	Early Steps Multisite Study Sample	Not available	Not available	Not available	OR = 9.35	Not available	Not available

Lunkenheimer, E. S., Dishion, T. J., Shaw, D. S., Connell, A. M., Gardner, F., Wilson, M. N., & Skuban, E. M. (2008). Collateral benefits of the family check-up on early childhood school readiness: Indirect effects of parents’ positive behavior support. Developmental Psychology, 44(6), 1737–1752.

Family Check-Up^® For Children

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance	Notes
Inhibitory control, Age 3, SEM	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	731 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05	footnote297 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used structural equation models to estimate the impact, and reported an estimate, coefficient, standard error, and p-value.
Language skills, Age 3, SEM	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	731 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05	footnote297 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used structural equation models to estimate the impact, and reported an estimate, coefficient, standard error, and p-value.

Shaw, D. S., Connell, A., Dishion, T. J., Wilson, M. N., & Gardner, F. (2009). Improvements in maternal depression as a mediator of intervention effects on early childhood problem behavior. Development and Psychopathology, 21, 417–439.

Family Check-Up^® For Children

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance	Notes
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Externalizing, Age 3, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	651 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Externalizing, Age 4, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	619 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.05
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Internalizing, Age 3, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	651 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Internalizing, Age 4, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	619 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.05
Eyeberg Child Behavior Inventory Problem Score, Age 3, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	642 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Eyeberg Child Behavior Inventory Problem Score, Age 4, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	616 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.05
Growth in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Externalizing from ages 2 to 4, Latent growth model	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Ages 3 and 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	731 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study reported = 0.23	Statistically significant, p<0.05¹	footnote270 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used a latent growth model to estimate the impact, and reported a coefficient, standard error, and effect size.
Growth in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Internalizing from ages 2 to 4, Latent growth model	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Ages 3 and 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	731 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study reported = 0.21	Statistically significant, p<0.05¹	footnote270 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used a latent growth model to estimate the impact, and reported a coefficient, standard error, and effect size.
Growth in Eyeberg Child Behavior Inventory Problem Score from ages 2 to 4, Latent growth model	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Ages 3 and 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	731 mothers	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study reported = 0.23	Statistically significant, p<0.05¹	footnote270 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used a latent growth model to estimate the impact, and reported a coefficient, standard error, and effect size.

Shaw, D. S., Dishion, T. J., Supplee, L., Gardner, F., & Arnds, K. (2006). Randomized trial of a family-centered approach to the prevention of early conduct problems: 2-year effects of the family check-up in early childhood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(1), 1–9.

Family Check-Up^® For Children

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance	Notes
CBCL Aggression Scale (Revised version for age 4 follow-up)	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3 and Age 4	Pittsburgh sample	92 children	Mean at age 3 = 9.85 (SD 4.04). Mean at age 4 = 6.96, (SD 4.76) = 9.85	Mean = 8.93	Difference = -1.16	HomVEE calculated = 30.22	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05	footnote44 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 HomVEE calculated the difference in growth rates as the change over time (mean at age 4 minus mean at age 3) for the program group minus the change over time for the comparison group. footnote46 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Statistical significance is based on the results of the authors’ analysis using a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance.
CBCL Destructive Scale (Revised version for age 4 follow-up)	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3 and Age 4	Pittsburgh sample	92 children	Mean at age 3 = 2.66 (SD 1.82), Mean at age 4 = 1.87 (SD 1.87) = 2.66	Mean = 3.21	Difference = 0.15	HomVEE calculated = 3.00	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05	footnote46 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Statistical significance is based on the results of the authors’ analysis using a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance.
CBCL Physical Aggression	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3 and Age 4	Pittsburgh sample	92 children	Mean at age 3=0.96, (SD=1.07). Mean at age 4=0.65, (SD= 0.95). = 0.96	Mean = 0.67	Difference = -0.42	HomVEE calculated = 30.27	Statistical significance not reported	footnote44 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 HomVEE calculated the difference in growth rates as the change over time (mean at age 4 minus mean at age 3) for the program group minus the change over time for the comparison group.

Sitnick, S. L., Shaw, D. S., Gill, A., Dishion, T., Winter, C., Waller, R., Gardner, F., & Wilson, M. (2015). Parenting and the family check-up: Changes in observed parent-child interaction following early childhood intervention. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 44(6), 970–984.

Family Check-Up^® For Children

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance	Notes
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Oppositional/Aggressive, Age 5, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 5	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	614 families	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Oppositional/Aggressive, Age 5, T-test	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 5	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	614 families	Unadjusted mean = 0.43	Unadjusted mean = 0.47	Mean difference = -0.04	HomVEE calculated = 0.11	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05	footnote162 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Negative value is favorable to the intervention.

Findings rated moderate

Gardner, F., Connell, A., Trentacosta, C. J., Shaw, D. S., Dishion, T. J., & Wilson, M. N. (2009). Moderators of outcome in a brief family-centered intervention for preventing early problem behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(3), 543–553.

Family Check-Up^® For Children

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance	Notes
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Externalizing, Age 3, Mean and SD	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	651 children	Unadjusted mean = 55.83	Unadjusted mean = 56.11	Mean difference = -0.28	HomVEE calculated = -0.03	Not statistically significant, p=0.70	footnote162 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Negative value is favorable to the intervention.
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Externalizing, Age 4, Mean and SD	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	619 children	Unadjusted mean = 52.68	Unadjusted mean = 54.67	Mean difference = -1.99	HomVEE calculated = -0.19	Statistically significant, p=0.02	footnote162 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Negative value is favorable to the intervention.
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Externalizing, Ages 3 and 4, Latent growth model	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Ages 3 and 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	723 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.05²	footnote266 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used a latent growth model to estimate the impact.
Eyeberg Child Behavior Inventory Problem Score, Age 3, Mean and SD	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	642 children	Unadjusted mean = 59.18	Unadjusted mean = 60.06	Mean difference = -0.88	HomVEE calculated = -0.08	Not statistically significant, p=0.28	footnote162 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Negative value is favorable to the intervention.
Eyeberg Child Behavior Inventory Problem Score, Age 4, Mean and SD	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	616 children	Unadjusted mean = 58.64	Unadjusted mean = 60.63	Mean difference = -1.99	HomVEE calculated = -0.18	Statistically significant, p=0.03	footnote162 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Negative value is favorable to the intervention.
Eyeberg Child Behavior Inventory Problem Score, Ages 3 and 4, Latent growth model	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Ages 3 and 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	723 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.05²	footnote266 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used a latent growth model to estimate the impact.

Moilanen, K. L., Shaw, D. S., Dishion, T. J., Gardner, F., & Wilson, M. (2010). Predictors of longitudinal growth in inhibitory control in early childhood. Social Development, 19(2), 326–347.

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance	Notes
Inhibitory control intercept, Ages 2-4, Preliminary conditional growth model	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Ages 2-4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	720 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p>0.05¹	footnote260 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used a preliminary conditional growth model and reported a coefficient, standard error, and p-value.
Inhibitory control slope, Ages 2-4, Preliminary conditional growth model	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Ages 2-4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	720 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p>0.05¹	footnote260 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Authors used a preliminary conditional growth model and reported a coefficient, standard error, and p-value.
Inhibitory control, Age 3, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	645 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Inhibitory control, Age 4, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	622 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

Smith, J. D., Dishion, T. J., Shaw, D. S., Wilson, M. N., Winter, C. C., & Patterson, G. R. (2014). Coercive family process and early-onset conduct problems from age 2 to school entry. Development and Psychopathology, 26(4 Pt. 1), 917.

Family Check-Up^® For Children

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Oppositional/Aggressive, Age 3, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 3	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	657 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Oppositional/Aggressive, Age 4, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 4	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	627 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Oppositional/Aggressive, Age 5, Correlation	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 5	WIC sites in Pittsburgh, PA, Eugene, OR, and Charlottesville, VA	612 children	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

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