DEVELOPING EARLY-CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT RISK- RESEARCH-BASED PRINCIPLES TO PROMOTE LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS

Early childhood programs for economically disadvantaged children are c omprehensive interventions designed to help prevent school failure and social difficulties by promoting healthy child and family development . Eight principles of early childhood interventions were reviewed to h ighlight the research-based characteristics of programs that promote l ong-term effects on children's development. Effective programs not onl y enhance children's scholastic development but also can reduce the ne ed for later remedial education and human welfare services. The effect s of the Chicago Child-Parent Center, a large-scale early intervention program, were described to illustrate the importance of designing and implementing programs that have all the features of programs demonstr ating long-term success fbr children and families.