Multimodal evaluation of therapy versus consultation components in a large inner-city early intervention program

Cincinnati's Social Skills Development Program (SSDP) used a social competence model to direct its interventions for children. Systematic screening identified 15-25% of the primary grade children who showed behavioral problems and deficits in social skills at seven elementary schools. Multimodal evaluations comparing therapy and consultation interventions included three types of assessments over a 1 year period. Tests of social skills revealed that children who received both therapy and consultation services, compared to those who received only consultation, improved in a basic empathy skill and increased their externality in locus of control. School record data showed that therapy and consultation children improved in grades; but, consultation children improved most. Finally, trained observers found that therapy children, compared to children in consultation only, increased cooperative interactions with teachers and maintained appropriate solitary behaviors. The data are discussed as providing some support for the hypothesis that therapy produced increased benefits for children compared to the less costly consultation intervention. However, since therapy and consultation conditions were not differentiated on many assessments (e.g., tests of interpersonal problem-solving and advanced empathy skills; lateness; achievement), more intense behaviorally oriented interventions may be warranted.