This paper evaluates the Jumpstart Program (JSP), a parenting intervention implemented by a school district in the Houston area to enhance school readiness among economically disadvantaged three-year-old children. Unlike many early childhood programs typically tested in controlled research settings, JSP leverages existing school district resources…

Episodic memory (EM) is the content of our personal narratives and is foundational to social communication. Research has repeatedly demonstrated EM challenges in individuals with autism. Meanwhile, it is well documented that a caregiver conversational style known as elaborative reminiscing facilitates EM development in children without autism.…

Elopement is a common and dangerous behavior among autistic children. Behavioral treatments can reduce elopement, but most evidence comes from small-N evaluations in specialized settings with strategies varying across studies. The current study compared the efficacy of the caregiver-mediated function-based elopement treatment to parent education…

The objective of the current study was to assess how a LEGO intervention, implemented by a grandparent and a parent at home, affected social interactions for four children (two girls, two boys; ages 6-7 years) on the autism spectrum in China. A multiple probe design across four families was used. Grandparents and parents were trained to use…

This quasi-experimental study examined the effect of a virtual supportive program on knowledge among mothers of preterm infants and their bond. Mothers of preterm infants are at risk of becoming emotionally detached from their infants because of immediate separation and the lack of support during the early postpartum period, especially in mothers…

The research synthesis presented here reviewed the currently available evidence on the effectiveness of parent-implemented interventions and family-centered service delivery approaches in early intervention, early childhood special education, and kindergarten through grade three (EI/ECSE [early childhood special education]/K-3). The search for…

For the purposes of this study, criteria for non-traditional students were: adults ages 25 and older, race/ethnicity, gender, entry date or transfer to a community college in Middle Tennessee during fall 2015 through summer 2021, and Pell/Grant eligibility. The problem is that non-traditional students have lower completions than traditional…

While there are opportunities for families to fulfill leadership roles in early intervention, families often report feeling disempowered and unprepared to become leaders. To this end, in this pilot study, we evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of an 8-hour leadership program for 20 parents of children who are receiving, or recently…

Autism intervention research has not adequately addressed the needs of Black autistic children and their families, particularly those who are also immigrants to the United States. The World Health Organization designed Caregiver Skills Training (CST), a parent-mediated intervention intended to improve child social communication and behavior, to…

Playing games occupies an essential place throughout life, particularly in childhood. With technological advances, urbanization, and the reduction of playgrounds, children's engagement with digital games has steadily increased. This shift highlights the importance of raising parental awareness about children's digital game preferences and gaming…

This study addresses the critical issue of mathematical underperformance among preschoolers in Yopal Casanare, Colombia, through the perspective of an action research project. It focuses on the design and implementation of a didactic unit aimed at promoting numerical thinking, specifically seriation and structured counting, in preschool students.…

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit challenging behaviors. Existing behavioral parent trainings (BPT) address ASD symptomology, but are lengthy and associated with significant attrition. In the current pilot study, a longitudinal randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate a novel brief BPT targeting caregivers of…

This 5-year research project was based on an NSF S-STEM research grant (1742118) focused on student veteran education and workforce preparation. We addressed STEM workforce and defence community needs by providing targeted scholarships and support for veteran students pursuing engineering degrees. Our aim was to enhance the workforce by improving…

Background: Parent-only psychological interventions can be effective treatments for child anxiety. Involving parents in treatment may be beneficial for children, ensuring that interventions are delivered effectively in a supportive environment. Few studies have investigated the feasibility and acceptability of parent-only interventions for child…

Although research has shown the benefits of caregiver-implemented interventions, there is still limited intervention research on caregivers from historically underrepresented groups. To increase accessibility and feasibility of interventions among culturally and linguistically diverse populations, studying the social validity or cultural relevance…