Assessing Costs and Benefits of Early Childhood Intervention Programs: Overview and Application to the Starting Early Starting Smart Program

• NCJ Number: 190478
• Author(s): Lynn A. Karoly; M. Rebecca Kilburn; James H. Bigelow; Jonathan P. Caulkins; Jill S. Cannon
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 171 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA)
• Sale Source: Rand Corporation; NCJRS Photocopy Services; Casey Family Programs
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This book assesses the costs and benefits of early childhood intervention programs.

Abstract

The goal of this book is to provide rigorous scientific evidence concerning whether children and families participating in Starting Early Starting Smart (SESS) programs achieve better access to needed services and better social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral health outcomes than do the children and families not receiving these services. The book emphasizes the importance of targeting positive interventions to very young children. The infant and preschool years lay a critical foundation for later growth and development. Successful interventions for very young children must meet the multiple behavioral health, physical health, and educational needs of families. Integrated behavioral health services must be made more accessible to families with multiple needs, which are difficult to meet in a fragmented service system. The book offers recommendations specific to the SESS programs but they may be applied more broadly for decision makers considering cost and outcome analysis of an early childhood intervention program. Notes, tables, figure, acronyms, appendixes, bibliography