Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) St. Joseph's Children Home Visiting Longitudinal Study

Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) St. Joseph's Children Home Visiting Longitudinal Study

This study involves a long-term outcome study of the Catholic Health Initiative St. Joseph's Children (CHI SJC) program using a randomized control study.

The purpose of this study is to determine the short-term and long-term impact and effectiveness of the CHI SJC program. The CHI SJC program has not been studied to determine program effectiveness. The investigators intend to follow families and their children until the children in the study graduate from high-school or turn 19 years of age.

The study, as a template, uses the eight outcome domains listed and described in the Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness website (http://homvee.acf.hhs.gov/outcomes.aspx). These eight domains are:

• Child development and school readiness
• Family economic self-sufficiency
• Maternal health
• Reductions in child maltreatment
• Child health
• Linkages and referrals
• Positive parenting practices
• Reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime

The investigators expect to observe significant differences among the two groups with respect to the primary outcome domains listed. The investigators expect study group members randomized to the CHI SJC program will perform better on the eight outcome domains.

Other hypotheses include:

Other Hypotheses:

Hypothesis 1. Randomization to CHI SJC will be associated with higher quality functioning and better child health and well-being.

Hypothesis 2. Randomization to CHI SJC will result in more connections to community resources.

Hypothesis 3. Randomization to CHI SJC will result in improved indications of maternal health and positive parenting practices.

Hypothesis 4. Randomization to CHI SJC will be associated with higher measures of family economic self-sufficiency.

Hypothesis 5. Randomization to CHI SJC will be associated with increased school readiness and school progress and attainment.

Hypothesis 6. Randomization to CHI SJC will be associated with reductions in juvenile delinquency, family violence, and crime.

The study will collect outcome data in the same way and, at the same time, from treatment and control group members. Data collection will primarily be comprised of a set of self-report questionnaires and a review of administrative records that target the outcome domains described earlier. Study group members will be assessed at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 3 years, 5 years, 8 years, 12 years, 15 years, and at high-school graduation or 19 years of age.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be first-born child of one of the parents.
• Child must be 3-months of age or less at the time of enrollment.
• At the time of enrollment family must live within the 3 county area covered by the program.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children older than 3-months.
• Children who are not the first-born child of one of the parents.