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Variation in community intervention programmes and consequences for children and families: the example of Sure Start
Edward Melhuish1, Jay Belsky, Angela Anning
1Institute for the Study of Children Families and Social Issues, Birkbeck, University of London, UK. e.melhuish@bbk.ac.uk
Background:
An area-based initiative, Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs), was established by the UK government to reduce social exclusion through improving the well-being of children aged 0-3 years and their families in disadvantaged communities; a true community intervention in that all children under four and their families in specified areas served as targets of universal services. A national evaluation examined the links between variation in programme implementation and effectiveness.
Methods:
Data gathered from multiple sources produced measures of implementation in terms of proficiency, services and staffing. Measures of programme impact on child/parenting outcomes derived from multilevel models, controlling for child, family and area characteristics, were identified to demonstrate programme effectiveness.
Results:
Some modest linkage between programme implementation (e.g., proficiency, empowerment of parents and staff, identification of users) and effectiveness for child and parenting outcomes.
Conclusions:
Overall proficiency and specific aspects of implementation may influence effectiveness, which should guide the design of other child, family and community services.
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