3-083 - Technology Enhanced Interventions for Remotely Strengthening Parenting and Caregiving of Very Young Children

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Research has demonstrated the positive impact of sensitive and responsive parenting and caregiving on child development as well as on subsequent risk mitigation. However, interventions with the strongest evidence of effectiveness are often inaccessible to parents and caregivers living in remote locations or who struggle to engage in home visiting interventions. Recent advances in technology have created new avenues for exploration of the delivery of effective interventions aimed at strengthening early caregiving and promoting healthy development of very young children. Internet use is rapidly crossing key demographic thresholds. While a digital divide continues to exist for those who are poor and are of non-majority status, evidence suggests that this divide is shrinking (Smith, 2014). While Internet-based intervention is no longer no longer a novelty, there are very few rigorous studies of the effects of remote intervention on caregiver behavioral outcomes that have been demonstrated to promote child development. In this symposium we will describe and present results from two randomized controlled trial studies and a development study of the effects of remote technology interventions on parenting and caregiving. Dr. Bigelow will present the effects of a daily text messaging intervention with families on parent attrition and engagement within an early intervention home visiting program. Drs. Johnson and Baggett will share results of web-based delivery of the Play and Learning Strategies program on parent and caregiver knowledge and behavior. As Discussant, Dr. Feil will highlight commonalities across these studies with regard to methodology, challenges, and implications for future research.

Sub Unit

• Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Chair

• Edward Feil, Oregon Research Institute

Individual Presentations

• Web-based adaption of a home-visiting program for low-income mothers of infants: Preliminary results - Edward Feil, Oregon Research Institute; Kathleen M. Baggett, University of Kansas; Betsy Davis, Oregon Research Institute; Susan H. Landry, University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston; Presenting Author: Ursula Yvette Johnson, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center

• Examining the Use and Effectiveness of Cell Phones to Enhance Home-Visiting Parenting Interventions - Presenting Author: Kathryn Bigelow, Juniper Gardens Children's Project; Dale Walker, Univ of KS

• Effects of A Web-Based Professional Development Program for Strengthening Child Care Teachers of Infants - Presenting Author: Kathleen M. Baggett, University of Kansas; Betsy Davis, Oregon Research Institute