Abstract
This paper describes a 6-year effort aimed at developing educational interventions for a group of economically disadvantaged children. The program provided an opportunity for psychologists and student paraprofessionals to join with personnel at urban health care facilities in responding to a serious identified community problem—disadvantaged youngsters, ages 1 and 2, who are vulnerable to later school and life difficulties. The intervention succeeded in enhancing academic skills among six groups of disadvantaged toddlers. As ongoing research results indicated the need for new program elements, the university personnel piloted innovations and the health centers gradually incorporated effective components into the existing program.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baratz, J. C. Language abilities of black Americans. In K. S. Miller and R. M. Dreger (Eds.),Comparative studies of blacks and whites in the United States, New York: Seminar Press, 1973.
Bayley, N.Manual for the Bayley Scales of infant development. Berkeley, Calif.: Psychological Corporation, 1969.
Bereiter, C., & Engelmann, S.Teaching disadvantaged children in the preschool. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1966.
Carter, B.Preschool program for economically disadvantaged children: A comparison of two intervention procedures. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Rochester, 1977.
Clark, K. R. Defeatism in ghetto schools. In J. I. Roberts (Ed.),School children in the urban slum. New York: Free Press, 1967.
Cowen, E. L. Social and community interventions.Annual Review of Psychology, 1973,24, 423–492.
Horowitz, F. D., & Paden, L. Y. The effectiveness of environmental intervention programs. In B. M. Caldwell and H. Riccuti (Eds.),Review of child development research (Vol. 3). New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 1973.
Hunt, J. McV.The challenge of incompetence and poverty., Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press, 1969.
Hunt, J. McV. Parent and child centers: Their basis in behavioral and educational sciences.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1971,41, 13–38.
Jason, L.Westside Health Services' infant stimulation manual. Unpublished manuscript, 1974.
Jason, L. Early secondary prevention with disadvantaged children.American Journal of Community Psychology, 1975,3, 33–46.
Jason, L. A behavioral approach in enhancing disadvantaged children's academic abilities.American Journal of Community Psychology, 1977,5, 413–421.
Jason, L., Clarfield, S., & Cowen, E. L. Preventive intervention with young disadvantaged children.American Journal of Community Psychology, 1973,1, 50–61.
Jason, L., Gesten, E., & Yock, T. Relational and behavioral interventions with economically disadvantaged toddlers.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 1976,46, 270–278.
Jason, L., & Kimbrough, C. A preventive educational program for young economically disadvantaged children.Journal of Community Psychology, 1974,2, 134–139.
Rotter, J. The future of clinical psychology.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1973,40, 313–321.
Specter, G. A., & Cowen, E. L. A pilot study in stimulation of culturally deprived infants.Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 1971,1, 168–177.
Williams, F. Some preliminaries and prospects. In F. Williams (Ed.),Language and poverty. Chicago: Markham Publishing Company, 1970.
Zax, M., & Cowen, E. L.Abnormal psychology: Changing conceptions (2nd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1976.
Zigler, E., & Butterfield, E. Motivational aspects of changes in IQ test performance of culturally deprived nursery school children.Child Development, 1968,39, 1–14.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jason, L.A., De Amicis, L. & Carter, B. Preventive intervention programs for disadvantaged children. Community Ment Health J 14, 272–278 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00778602
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00778602