Healthy Steps (National Evaluation 1996 Protocol)

This report focuses on Healthy Steps as implemented in the 1996 evaluation. HHS has determined that home visiting is not the primary service delivery strategy and the model does not meet current requirements for MIECHV program implementation.

Model effectiveness research report last updated: 2011

Effects shown in research

Child development and school readiness

Findings rated high

Johnston, B. D., Huebner, C. E., Anderson, M. L., Tyll, L. T., & Thompson, R. S. (2006). Healthy Steps in an integrated delivery system: Child and parent outcomes at 30 months. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 160(8), 793–800.

Healthy Steps - PrePare supplement relative to Healthy Steps only subgroup

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
MCDI combines two or more words (sometimes/often versus not yet)	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	30 months	Healthy Steps sample	219 children	Mean = 0.93	Mean = 0.89	OR = 1.05	HomVEE calculated = 0.03	Statistically significant, p < 0.05
MCDI use of two-word endings (three or more versus less than three)	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	30 months	Healthy Steps sample	219 children	Mean = 0.55	Mean = 0.55	OR = 1.09	HomVEE calculated = 0.05	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
MCDI vocabulary checklist	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	30 months	Healthy Steps sample	219 children	Mean = 54.40	Mean = 52.30	Mean difference = 4.08	Not available	Statistically significant, p < 0.05
MCDI word length of child’s 3 longest phrases	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	30 months	Healthy Steps sample	219 children	Mean = 4.29	Mean = 4.57	Mean difference = -0.22	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Child Behavior Checklist: Aggressive behavior subscale	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	30 months	Healthy Steps sample	239 children	Mean = 8.01	Mean = 7.46	Mean difference = 0.54	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Child Behavior Checklist: Anxious or depressed mood subscale	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	30 months	Healthy Steps sample	239 children	Mean = 4.12	Mean = 3.71	Mean difference = 0.40	Not available	Statistically significant, p < 0.05
Child Behavior Checklist: Sleep problems subscale	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	30 months	Healthy Steps sample	239 children	Mean = 3.35	Mean = 2.88	Mean difference = 0.39	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

Findings rated moderate

Caughy, M. O., Huang, K., Miller, T., & Genevro, J. L. (2004). The effects of Healthy Steps for Young Children Program: Results from observations of parenting and child development. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 19(4), 611–630.

Healthy Steps (National Evaluation 1996 Protocol)

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
Attachment Q-sort scale	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	16-18 mo.	2 of the 6 RCT national evaluation sites	378 children	Mean = 0.37	Mean = 0.36	Mean difference = 0.01	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

Minkovitz, C. S., Strobino, D., Mistry, K. B., Scharfstein, D. O., Grason, H., Hou, W., Guyer, B. (2007). Healthy Steps for Young Children: Sustained results at 5.5 years. Pediatrics, 120(3), 658–668.

Healthy Steps (National Evaluation 1996 Protocol)

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
Clinical or borderline concern about child behavior	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	5.5 years	The 6 RCT national evaluation sites	1308 children	Mean = 0.20	Mean = 0.17	OR = 1.26	HomVEE calculated = 0.14	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

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