The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a family wellness program enhances child and parenting outcomes among Latino dual language learners entering Kindergarten and their families. The main questions are: (1) To what extent does the family wellness program enhance home health and learning routines, and (2) To what extent does the family wellness program enhance child literacy, language, and social-emotional outcomes. All participants will be asked to complete surveys and assessments. Researchers will compare two groups: (1) Family wellness program that includes (a) 8-weekly summer sessions, (b) text messages, (c) booster sessions, and (2) usual care plus school supplies and list of resources to see if the family wellness program enhances child and parenting outcomes.
Education is a critical social determinant of health (SDOH). Latino dual language learners face large gaps in school readiness, which perpetuate inequities in academic achievement and subsequent health. Investigators developed an online family wellness program that uses anticipatory guidance on health topics intrinsically important to school readiness (e.g., nutrition, physical activity) to introduce basic language and literacy skills to Latino dual language learners, a fast- growing and particularly high-risk group, and their families. The online family wellness program was developed through a cross-sector partnership between educators and pediatric professionals and consists of parent-child workshops and reminder text messages. The program occurs during the transition into Kindergarten, a critical developmental stage, and uses promising approaches such as group structure, strategic use of technology, and partnerships. The program tightly integrates Bright Futures anticipatory guidance with the Kindergarten curriculum. During pilot testing, the investigators found that the family wellness program was feasible, well attended, and highly acceptable. The investigators now propose testing the effect of the family wellness program on child and parenting outcomes using a rigorous mixed methods and community-engaged approach. The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial testing the effects of the family wellness program on child language, literacy, and social-emotional outcomes as well home health and learning routines. The investigators will also conduct a mixed methods process evaluation, which will provide insight into reach and implementation as well as user experience.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
396
The FWP will consist of the following general format: (1) 8 weekly 60-minute summer workshops; (2) 4 booster workshops throughout the year; and (3) 2-3 outreach text messages per week for 10 months.
Child Health Institute
New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
Home Literacy Environment Questionnaire
The home literacy environment will be assessed with the StimQ, a caregiver-reported measure of cognitive stimulation for children that includes a domain on the home literacy environment (READ scale). The READ scale includes 3 subdimensions (Book Reading Quantity, Diversity of Content, Book Reading Quality). Scores on the READ scale range from 0 to 18. Higher scores indicate more cognitive stimulation
Time frame: 2 months
Home Literacy Environment Questionnaire
The home literacy environment will be assessed with the StimQ, a caregiver-reported measure of cognitive stimulation for children that includes a domain on the home literacy environment (READ scale). The READ scale includes 3 subdimensions (Book Reading Quantity, Diversity of Content, Book Reading Quality). Scores on the READ scale range from 0 to 18. Higher scores indicate more cognitive stimulation
Time frame: 10 months
Parent Responsiveness Questionnaire
Parent responsiveness will be assessed with the StimQ, a caregiver-reported measure of cognitive stimulation for children that includes a domain on responsiveness (Parental Verbal Responsiveness scale). The Parental Verbal Responsiveness scale includes a subdimension on responsiveness during routines (Everyday Routines). Scores range from 0 to 8. Higher scores indicate more cognitive stimulation.
Time frame: 2 months
Parent Responsiveness Questionnaire
Parent responsiveness will be assessed with the StimQ, a caregiver-reported measure of cognitive stimulation for children that includes a domain on responsiveness (Parental Verbal Responsiveness scale). The Parental Verbal Responsiveness scale includes a subdimension on responsiveness during routines (Everyday Routines). Scores range from 0 to 8. Higher scores indicate more cognitive stimulation.
Time frame: 10 months
Family Health Routines Questionnaire
This is a self-report measure for family nutrition and physical activity routines, which has been validated in English and Spanish. Higher scores are consistent with healthier routines.
Time frame: 2 months
Family Health Routines Questionnaire
This is a self-report measure for family nutrition and physical activity routines, which has been validated in English and Spanish. Higher scores are consistent with healthier routines.
Time frame: 10 months
Caregiver Attitudes About Reading Questionnaire
The Parent Reading Belief Inventory is a caregiver reported measure of attitudes and knowledge about reading with children that includes subdimensions of teaching efficacy (scores range from 0 to 27), positive affect (scores range from 0 to 33), and knowledge (scores range from 0 to 15) available in English and Spanish. Higher scores indicate more favorable attitudes and greater knowledge.
Time frame: 2 months
Caregiver Attitudes About Reading Questionnaire
The Parent Reading Belief Inventory is a caregiver reported measure of attitudes and knowledge about reading with children that includes subdimensions of teaching efficacy (scores range from 0 to 27), positive affect (scores range from 0 to 33), and knowledge (scores range from 0 to 15) available in English and Spanish. Higher scores indicate more favorable attitudes and greater knowledge.
Time frame: 10 months
Child Vocabulary Assessment
Child vocabulary will be assessed using an investigator developed measure. Higher scores indicate higher skills
Time frame: 2 months
Child Vocabulary Assessment
Child vocabulary will be assessed using an investigator developed measure. Higher scores indicate higher skills
Time frame: 10 months
Child Language Skills Assessment
Child receptive language and listening skills will be assessed with the Receptive One Word Picture Vocabulary Test - Fourth Edition (ROWPVT-4) Spanish-Bilingual. Higher scores indicate higher skills.
Time frame: 10 months
Child Literacy Skills Assessment
Literacy skills including concepts about books, story retelling, narrative thematic knowledge, letter and sound identification will be assessed using an investigator developed measure. Higher scores indicate higher skills
Time frame: 2 months
Child Literacy Skills Assessment
Literacy skills including concepts about books, story retelling, narrative thematic knowledge, letter and sound identification will be assessed using an investigator developed measure. Higher scores indicate higher skills
Time frame: 10 months
Child Social-emotional Development Questionnaire
Social emotional development will be measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which is a brief validated behavioral screening questionnaire for 4-17 year olds. The SDQ has been widely used in research studies. The SDQ has a total of 5 scales including the hyperactivity (scores range from 0-10) and prosocial (scores range from 0-10) scales used here. Higher scores on the hyperactivity scale indicate greater hyperactivity; higher scores on the Prosocial scale indicate greater prosocial behaviors.
Time frame: 2 months
Child Social-emotional Development Questionnaire
Social emotional development will be measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which is a brief validated behavioral screening questionnaire for 4-17 year olds. The SDQ has been widely used in research studies. The SDQ has a total of 5 scales including the hyperactivity (scores range from 0-10) and prosocial (scores range from 0-10) scales used here. Higher scores on the hyperactivity scale indicate greater hyperactivity; higher scores on the Prosocial scale indicate greater prosocial behaviors.
Time frame: 10 months
Child Media Use Questionnaire
The ScreenQ is a caregiver report measure of media use in children. Scores range from 0 to 26 with higher score indicating more media use.
Time frame: 2 months
Child Media Use Questionnaire
The ScreenQ is a caregiver report measure of media use in children. Scores range from 0 to 26 with higher score indicating more media use.
Time frame: 10 months.
Child Sleep Routines Questionnaire
Investigator developed question on sleep habits.
Time frame: 2 months
Child Sleep Routines Questionnaire
Investigator developed question on sleep habits.
Time frame: 10 months
Child Self-regulation Questionnaire
Using observational method by using a popular children's song to measure child's self regulation.
Time frame: 2 months
Child Self-regulation Questionnaire
Using observational method by using a popular children's song to measure child's self regulation.
Time frame: 10 months
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