Supporting Vulnerable Families in a Home-Based Early Education Intervention: The Effects on Children and Mothers

• In Event: In Pursuit of Equity: Centering the Voices of the Experiences of BIPOC Children and Families

Abstract

Developed based on family resilience and ecological theories, the Home-Based Early Childhood Education (HECE) program provided an 11-week home-visiting intervention to Syrian refugee and local Turkish mothers in impoverished host communities in Turkey. Implemented in 3566 households, HECE aimed to promote children’s early development and education by strengthening parenting practices and mothers’ teacher roles. This phenomenological study explored the experiences of 30 refugee and 20 local mothers regarding changes in their children, themselves, and overall family unit. Analyses revealed a variety of improvements and positive changes in four domains: Early development and learning; mother-child interaction; family cohesion and social network; mother empowerment. Overall, results suggest the effectiveness of HECE in enhancing home microsystem and fostering child development and family well-being.

Author

• Ersoy Erdemir, Bogazici University