Early Head Start—Home-based option

Model effectiveness research report last updated: 2016

Effects shown in research

Maternal health

Findings rated high

Love, J., Kisker, E., Ross, C. M., Schochet, P. Z., Brooks-Gunn, J., Paulsell, D., et al. (2002). Making a difference in the lives of infants and toddlers and their families: The impacts of Early Head Start. Volumes I-III: Final technical report [and] appendixes [and] local contributions to understanding the programs and their impacts. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Bureau.

Early Head Start—Home-based option

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
Subsequent birth by 24 months after random assignment	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	28 months after assignment	EHS-HBO impact sample	941 mothers	% = 21.80	% = 24.70	Mean difference = -2.90	Study reported = -0.07	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

Love, J., Kisker, E., Ross, C., Schochet, P., Brooks-Gunn, J., Boller, K., et al. (2001). Building their futures: How Early Head Start programs are enhancing the lives of infants and toddlers in low-income families. Summary report. Report to Commissioner’s Office of Research and Evaluation, Head Start Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, and Department of Health and Human Services. Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research.

Early Head Start—Home-based option

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
FES: Family conflict	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	24 months postpartum	EHS-HBO impact sample	966 mothers	Adjusted mean = 1.70	Adjusted mean = 1.70	Mean difference = 0.00	Study reported = -0.12	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
PSI Parent-Child dysfunctional interaction	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	24 months postpartum	EHS-HBO impact sample	966 mothers	Adjusted mean = 17.10	Adjusted mean = 17.50	Mean difference = -0.40	Study reported = -0.07	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
PSI parental distress	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	24 months postpartum	EHS-HBO impact sample	966 mothers	Adjusted mean = 25.10	Adjusted mean = 26.20	Mean difference = -1.10	Study reported = -0.11	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

Findings rated moderate

Chazan-Cohen, R., Raikes, H. H., & Vogel, C. (2013). V. Program subgroups: Patterns of impacts for home-based, center-based, and mixed-approach programs. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 78(1), 93-109.

Early Head Start—Home-based option

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance	Notes
Parent depression	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 5	Home-based program approach		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study reported = -0.08	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05	footnote238 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Negative value favors the intervention.
Someone in household had alcohol/drug problem in past year	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 5	Home-based program approach		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study reported = -0.04	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05	footnote238 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Negative value favors the intervention.

Love, J., Kisker, E., Ross, C. M., Schochet, P. Z., Brooks-Gunn, J., Paulsell, D., et al. (2002). Making a difference in the lives of infants and toddlers and their families: The impacts of Early Head Start. Volumes I-III: Final technical report [and] appendixes [and] local contributions to understanding the programs and their impacts. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Bureau.

Early Head Start—Home-based option

Show findings details

Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
FES: Family conflict	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	36 months postpartum	EHS-HBO impact sample	950 mothers	Adjusted mean = 1.70	Adjusted mean = 1.70	Mean difference = 0.00	Study reported = -0.01	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
PSI Parent-Child dysfunctional interaction	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	36 months postpartum	EHS-HBO impact sample	950 mothers	Adjusted mean = 17.50	Adjusted mean = 18.10	Mean difference = -0.60	Study reported = -0.10	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
PSI Parental distress	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	36 months postpartum	EHS-HBO impact sample	950 mothers	Adjusted mean = 24.90	Adjusted mean = 26.30	Mean difference = -1.40	Study reported = -0.14	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

Love, J., Kisker, E., Ross, C., Schochet, P., Brooks-Gunn, J., Boller, K., et al. (2001). Building their futures: How Early Head Start programs are enhancing the lives of infants and toddlers in low-income families. Summary report. Report to Commissioner’s Office of Research and Evaluation, Head Start Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, and Department of Health and Human Services. Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research.

Early Head Start—Home-based option

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance
CIDI short screening scales: Major depression (probability)	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	24 months postpartum	EHS-HBO impact sample	966 mothers	Adjusted mean = 14.70	Adjusted mean = 12.00	Mean difference = 2.80	Study reported = 0.09	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
Parent’s health status	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	24 months postpartum	EHS-HBO impact sample	966 mothers	Adjusted mean = 3.40	Adjusted mean = 3.40	Mean difference = 0.00	Study reported = 0.00	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05

McKelvey, L., Schiffman, R. F., Brophy-Herb, H. E., Bocknek, E. L., Fitzgerald, H. E., Reischl, T. M., Hawver, S., & DeLuca, M. C. (2015). Examining long-term effects of an infant mental health home-based Early Head Start Program on family strengths and resilience. Infant Mental Health Journal, 36(4), 353-365.

Early Head Start Infant Mental Health Home-Based Services Adaptation (IMH-HB EHS)

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Outcome measure	Effect	Follow-up timing	Sample	Sample size	Intervention group	Comparison group	Group difference	Effect size	Statistical significance	Notes
PSI: parent-child dysfunctional interaction	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3 and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
PSI: parental distress	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3 and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p ≥ 0.05
F-COPES: cognitive reframing	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p >0.10
F-COPES: seeking support from family and friends	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p >0.10
F-COPES: seeking support from neighbors	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.05	footnote234 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 Comparison group was more likely to seek neighbor support. P-value reported by the author was based on an F-test of repeated measure analysis.
F-COPES: seeking support from service providers	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p >0.10
F-COPES: spiritual coping	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Not statistically significant, p > 0.10
McMaster FAD: healthy functioning	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.01	footnote235 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 IMH-HB <abbr title="Early Head Start">EHS</abbr> group had higher scores on healthy functioning. P-value reported by the author was based on an F-test of repeated measure analysis.
McMaster FAD: unhealthy functioning	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.01	footnote236 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 IMH-HB <abbr title="Early Head Start">EHS</abbr> group had lower scores on unhealthy functioning. P-value reported by the author was based on an F-test of repeated measure analysis.
Pearlin Mastery, age 7	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Age 7	0		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.05	footnote237 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 IMH-HB <abbr title="Early Head Start">EHS</abbr> group showed higher levels of perceived mastery. P-value reported by the author was based on an F-test of repeated measure analysis.
PES: attitudes	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.01	footnote232 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 IMH-HB <abbr title="Early Head Start">EHS</abbr> group had higher levels of empowerment based on reported attitudes. P-value reported by the author was based on an F-test of repeated measure analysis.
PES: skills & knowledge	FavorableUnfavorable or ambiguousNo Effect	Pooled (ages 3, 5, and 7)	Full sample		Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not available	Statistically significant, p<0.01	footnote233 Submitted by user on Fri, 03/15/2019 - 14:29 IMH-HB <abbr title="Early Head Start">EHS</abbr> group had higher levels of empowerment based on reported knowledge and skills. P-value reported by the author was based on an F-test of repeated measure analysis.

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