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Annotation from the Connection Collection

You are viewing a record from the Connection Collection, a searchable annotated bibliography database. It links you with research-based information that you can use to connect schools, families, and communities.

Annotation:
This paper is a preliminary evaluation of the impact of integrated services, provided by 40 Healthy Start grantees in California, on student school performance. Healthy Start (HS) is an attempt to deliver integrated, comprehensive, and high-quality services that support and strengthen families. The authors analyzed four HS program modelsÑschool-site family resource centers, satellite family service centers, family service coordination teams, and youth service programsÑto examine their impact on different subgroups of students. The data indicated that students who exhibited the poorest behavior before HS enrollment made the largest improvements, but overall behavior ratings increased only marginally. No significant differences in school attendance were found. Grades showed marginal, but significant improvement, with the strongest gains made by students struggling the most with grades prior to HS enrollment. Elementary students experienced more grade improvement than older students and boys experienced larger gains than girls. No significant differences were found between different ethnic groups. When results were broken down by program type, only the family service coordination team programs experienced significant increases in grade point averages. Students in programs that had a stated goal of improving educational outcomes had greater education gains than those that didnÕt. Healthy StartÕs goal of eliminating barriers to learning appeared to be addressed. After participating in the program, students and their families were less likely to need items such as food and clothing. In general, impacts at the early stage of implementation were small, but the short length of time that the students were served by Healthy Start (an average of less than one semester) may be a factor. This program evaluation points to the importance of explicitly developing educational goals for full-service programs and the different impact of different types of service-delivery models, and can be informative for practitioners planning.

Suggested Citation Style:

• Newman, L. (1995). School-agency-community partnerships: What is the early impact on student school performance? Menlo Park, CA: California Healthy Start. ED385950.