Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116656

Shelli Panebaker, BS and Flavius R. W. Lilly, MPH. Department of Community Health Improvement, Hanover Hospital, 300 Highland Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331, (717) 633-3547, panebakers@hanoverhospital.org

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of an early literacy home-visiting program for socio-economically disadvantaged families in a rural central Pennsylvania community (population 45,000). BACKGROUND: The Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) helps prepare children (ages 2 to 4 years) to enter school ready to learn and succeed. Trained home visitors interact with children and their parents in the home twice a week for one year. PCHP emphasizes the power of verbal interaction through books and toys and empowers parents as their child's first teacher. METHOD: Two cohorts of families were investigated over 12 months, respectively (Cohort 1, N=18; Cohort 2, N=19). Pre- and post-testing of Early Language Development (TELD-3) assessed receptive language (understanding) and expressive (speech) language skills and the Adult/Child Interactive Reading Inventory (ACIRI) assessed parent-child interaction and literacy skills. Literacy behaviors measured included, 1) enhancing attention to text; 2) promoting interactive reading and supporting comprehension; and 3) using literacy strategies. RESULTS: Cohort 1 had mean early language gains significantly above what would be expected for age-of-child in receptive language (7.5 months) and in expressive language (11.67 months). Cohort 2 showed similar average gains in receptive (11.16 months) and expressive (12.42 months) language development. Increases were found in parents' use of literacy strategies (Cohort 1=29% increase, Cohort 2=18% increase) and in children's use of literacy strategies (Cohort 1=23% increase, Cohort 2=21% increase). CONCLUSION: Gains attributed to the PCHP reflect growth beyond normal expected development helping to eliminate literacy disparities among children of socio-economically disadvantaged families.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the major components of early literacy home visiting program.
• Articulate successful construct for evaluation early literacy programs.
• Discuss socio economic disparities in early literacy and educational attainment.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.