The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49788

Jane Wellenkamp, PhD, Teddy Milder, PNP, PHN, George Philipp, Rory Darrah, and Janis Burger, MPH. Alameda County Children and Families Commission, 1850 Fairway Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577, 510-667-3960, jwellenk@co.alameda.ca.us

In 1998, the California voters passed The California Children and Families First Act, Proposition 10 (a tobacco tax), creating a tremendous opportunity to provide resources to make this vision a reality for children 0 to 5 years of age and their families. The Alameda County Children and Families Commission became the first Commission in the state to approve its strategic plan, Every Child Counts (ECC). A goal of Proposition 10 is to improve the school-readiness of children entering kindergarten. Every Child Counts partnered with two school districts, a Healthy Start school-linked services program and an adult education program to pilot and evaluate innovative school readiness programs for children entering kindergarten in Fall 2001. A half-day, six-week pre-k summer camp was designed to introduce children without prior pre-school experience to the school environment and expose them to school readiness activities. The evaluation used several data collection sources and methods: pre and post child observation assessments, focus groups with parents, teachers and child observers, attendance records and child health and family demographic data. A description of the pilot, the evaluation and lessons learned will be presented. Findings suggest that there was a positive impact on children and families even though the intervention occurred over a short period of time.

Learning Objectives:

• 3. Describe the components of a promising pre-kindergarten summer program
  6. Describe how both quantitative and qualitative data can be combined to evaluate evaluate school readiness programs
  9. Identify the advantages of using the High Scope observational tool
  12. Identify program elements that contributed to the success of a school readiness program
  15. Discuss challenges in implementing a collaborative model for school readiness strategies

Keywords: School Health, Evaluation

Related Web page: ackids.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Alameda County Children and Families Commission
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.