A Program Evaluation of the Welcome Baby Project: A Primary Prevention Program for Teenage Mothers and Their Infants

<p>The central purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Welcome Baby Project (WBP), a primary prevention program with the mission of promoting child development and a positive relationship between "at-risk" adolescent mothers and their infants and to prevent disorders of attachment, child abuse and neglect, and unwanted, repeat pregnancy. Intervention involved weekly home visits by trained parent volunteers for children from birth to two years.</p> <p>The WBP mothers and a control group of adolescent mothers were compared on assessments collected during a home visit. Participants were asked to complete the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI), and the High Scope Knowledge Scale (HSKS). Videotaped observations of mother-infant interactions in a teaching session were rated using the National Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS). The quality of the home environment was assessed using the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME). The Battelle Developmental Inventory - Screening Test (BDI) was used to assess infant development. WBP mothers and Home Visitors were asked to evaluate the program.</p> <p>The groups differed on important variables associated with high risk status; the greater risk status of WBP mothers increases the likelihood of underestimating the program's impact. Low statistical power (n = 30) made detecting program effectiveness difficult. WBP mothers were significantly more accurate in their knowledge of developmental milestones and had fewer late expectations than control mothers on the HSKS. The NCATS, HOME, AAPI, and HSKS approached significance when the variability due to birth weight, prematurity, and household income were controlled. Comparison of the means reflected a strong trend favoring the WBP mothers.</p> <p>Comparisons with normative and other study samples on the NCATS, HOME and AAPI lends support for program effectiveness. Evaluations of the program by WBP mothers and Home Visitors were positive. The results are encouraging but point to the need for continued evaluation over the next several years.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

1991

Author dc:creator

• Murdock, Susan A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Joseph Galano
• Janis Sanchez-Hucles
• David Pancoast
• Alan Rountree
• Ann Lodge
• Marky McDowell

• Evaluation
• Program
• Welcome Baby Project (WBP)
• Teenage mothers
• Infants
• Clinical Psychology
• Social Work

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/306

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:psychology_etds-1301