Manuscript Details

LeCroy, C. W., & Krysik, J. (2011). Randomized trial of the Healthy Families Arizona home visiting program. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(10), 1761–1766.

High rating
Study reviewed under: Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Study design characteristics contributing to rating
Design Attrition Baseline equivalence Confounding factors? Valid, reliable measures?
Randomized controlled trial Low

Established on race/ethnicity.

None

Not assessed in manuscripts reviewed under Handbook of Procedures and Standards, Version 1
Notes from the review of this manuscript

High rating applies to all outcomes except those with baseline differences that were not controlled. The moderate rating applies to the following outcomes: use of resources, emotional loneliness, and pathways to goals.

These outcomes are rated moderate due to baseline differences in these variables that were not controlled for in the analyses.

Family Economic Self-Sufficiency
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
School or training for mother 12 months High
1.19 Statistically significant, p = 0.01 171 mothers Arizona sample
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Linkages and Referrals
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Use of resources 6 months Moderate
4.32 Statistically significant, p =0.007 180 mothers Arizona sample
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Maternal Health
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Alcohol use 6 months High
0.59 Not available 180 mothers Arizona sample
Alcohol use 12 months High
0.40 Statistically significant, p = 0.04 171 mothers Arizona sample
Emotional loneliness 6 months Moderate
0.01 Not statistically significant, p = 0.34 180 mothers Arizona sample
Pathways to goal 6 months Moderate
0.89 Not statistically significant, p =0.12 180 mothers Arizona sample
Pathways to goal 12 months Moderate
1.69 Not statistically significant, p =0.87 171 mothers Arizona sample
Use of resources 12 months Moderate
1.58 Statistically significant, p =0.001 171 mothers Arizona sample
Using birth control 6 months High
0.03 Not statistically significant, p = 0.061 180 mothers Arizona sample
Using birth control 12 months High
Not statistically significant, p = 0.54 171 mothers Arizona sample
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Positive Parenting Practices
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Aggressive discipline 12 months High
2.43 Not statistically significant, p =0.10 168 mothers Arizona sample
Belief in corporal punishment 6 months High
0.15 Not statistically significant, p =0.12 180 mothers Arizona sample
Belief in corporal punishment (AAPI-2) 12 months High
0.03 Not statistically significant, p =0.63 168 mothers Arizona sample
Inappropriate expectations 6 months High
0.22 Not statistically significant, p =0.10 180 mothers Arizona sample
Inappropriate expectations (AAPI-2) 12 months High
0.00 Not statistically significant, p =0.91 168 mothers Arizona sample
Lack of empathy 6 months High
0.02 Not statistically significant, p = 0.54 180 mothers Arizona sample
Lack of empathy (AAPI-2) 12 months High
0.04 Not statistically significant, p =0.91 168 mothers Arizona sample
Mother's reading 6 months High
1.62 Not statistically significant, p =0.28 180 mothers Arizona sample
Mother's reading 12 months High
0.27 Not statistically significant, p =0.85 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never called name, cursed 12 months High
0.26 Not statistically significant, p =0.33 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never hit elsewhere 12 months High
0.68 Not statistically significant, p =0.28 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never pinched child 12 months High
1.12 Not statistically significant, p =0.15 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never shouted, yelled at child 12 months High
0.43 Statistically significant, p =0.02 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never slapped hand 12 months High
0.42 Statistically significant, p =0.03 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never slapped on face 12 months High
Not statistically significant, p =0.99 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never smacked/threatened, hit 12 months High
0.16 Not statistically significant, p =0.30 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never spanked 12 months High
0.14 Not statistically significant, p =0.19 168 mothers Arizona sample
Never threw object at child 12 months High
Not statistically significant, p =0.32 168 mothers Arizona sample
Oppressing child's independence 12 months High
Not statistically significant, p =0.68 168 mothers Arizona sample
Oppressing child's independence (AAPI-2) 6 months High
0.10 Not statistically significant, p =0.06 180 mothers Arizona sample
Reversing roles 6 months High
0.17 Not statistically significant, p =0.32 180 mothers Arizona sample
Reversing roles (AAPI-2) 12 months High
Not statistically significant, p =0.33 168 mothers Arizona sample
Safety practices 6 months High
3.00 Statistically significant, p = 0.04 180 mothers Arizona sample
Safety practices 12 months High
1.17 Not statistically significant, p =0.42 168 mothers Arizona sample
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant
Reductions in Juvenile Delinquency, Family Violence, and Crime
Outcome Measure Timing of Follow-Up Rating Direction of Effect Effect Size (Absolute Value) Stastical Significance Sample Size Sample Description
Family violence 6 months Moderate
1.87 Not statistically significant, p =0.15 180 mothers Arizona sample
Family violence 12 months Moderate
1.12 Not statistically significant, p =0.37 168 mothers Arizona sample
Effect rating key
Favorable finding / Statistically significant
Unfavorable finding / Statistically significant
Ambiguous finding / Statistically significant
No effect / Not statistically significant

This study included participants with the following characteristics at enrollment:

Race/Ethnicity

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if Hispanic ethnicity was reported separately or respondents could select two or more race or ethnicity categories.

Hispanic or Latino
60%
White
21%
Unknown
19%

Maternal Education

Data not available

Other Characteristics

Data not available

This study included participants from the following locations:

  • Arizona
Study Participants

Following assessment, families meeting Healthy Families Arizona criteria were randomly assigned to the experimental group or the Child Development control group. A total of 195 families enrolled in the study and completed baseline interviews (98 in the experimental group and 97 in the control group). Eighty-five families in the experimental group and 86 families in the control group completed one-year interviews. Twenty-five percent of the mothers in the study were white and 74 percent were Hispanic.

Setting

The study took place in a single Healthy Families Arizona site in a large metropolitan area in the state.

Intervention condition
Comparison Conditions

Families assigned to the Child Development control group received assessment information about their child’s developmental progress in the context of a consistent and long-term positive relationship. Control group families were also offered opportunities to access services if desired.

Author Affiliation

None of the authors is a developer of this model.

Funding Sources

Arizona Department of Economic Security