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An English-language clinic-based literacy program is effective for a multilingual population
Michael Silverstein1, Leslie Iverson, Paula Lozano
1Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. msilve@u.washington.edu
Pediatrics
|May 3, 2002
Summary
A pediatric literacy intervention improved home reading habits for multilingual families. The program, involving reading, counseling, and book gifts, positively impacted both English and non-English speaking groups, demonstrating its effectiveness in diverse settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric health
- Literacy development
- Public health interventions
Background:
- Clinic-based literacy interventions show success in English- and Spanish-speaking populations.
- Limited data exist on intervention effectiveness in multilingual pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a clinic-based pediatric literacy program's impact on a multilingual patient group.
- To assess changes in home literacy behaviors following the intervention.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental design assessed reading practices via standardized interviews before and after the intervention.
- The intervention included volunteer reading, literacy counseling, and book distribution at well-child visits (6 months to 5 years).
- Outcomes were analyzed separately for English-speaking and non-English-speaking families.
Main Results:
- Post-intervention, families reported increased reading as a favorite activity and more frequent bedtime reading.
- Significant increases in weekly bedtime reading and book ownership were observed in both English- and non-English-speaking groups.
- Non-English-speaking families showed positive trends in reading as a favorite activity and book sharing.
Conclusions:
- The clinic-based literacy intervention effectively promoted home literacy behaviors across diverse linguistic groups.
- Both English-speaking and non-English-speaking families benefited from the program.
- Tailoring interventions for linguistic minorities can further enhance program effectiveness.