Increasing Parent-Teacher Communication in Private Preschools

Parent-teacher communication is a first step in increasing family engagement. Private childcare centers have been found to report less frequent parent-child communication than publicly funded early childhood education programs such as Head Start. Using a matched comparison group design, we tested the impact of a two-pronged intervention, the Family Map Inventory for Early Childhood (Family Map; family assessment) and Teaching Important Parenting Skills (TIPS; brief parenting interventions on broad array of topics), on parent-teacher communication in private childcare centers serving low-income families. The intervention included a 4-hour Family Map training and a 6-hour TIPS training aimed at improving parent-teacher communication. Trained teachers conducted Family Map interviews and implemented TIPS for four months.  Results indicated: (1) teachers were willing to implement the Family Map/ TIPS intervention in private child care settings; and (2) the parents and teachers in the intervention group reported higher levels of parent-teacher communication than those in the comparison group

Using Community Advisory Boards to Build Partnerships and Develop Peer-Led Services for Rural Student Veterans.

BackgroundThe Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA)/Student Partnership for Rural Veterans (VSP) built partnerships between institutional (health services researchers, VA chaplains) and community groups to develop veteran-to-veteran services on college campuses.ObjectivesDescribe challenges and lessons learned in year 1 of the VSP project at six campuses in rural Arkansas.MethodsResearchers leveraged established community advisory boards (CABs) to develop veteran-to-veteran services. Ethnographic and qualitative methods were used to assess partnership building and evaluate peer-led services.ResultsLocal established CABs and buy-in from student services and veteran organizations was instrumental to building partnerships and developing services. Challenges included developing rapport with campus leaders and creating sustainable role/expectations for student veteran leaders.ConclusionsPeer-led services are an ideal way to connect student veterans and link them to resources and health care services. Partnerships can facilitate grassroots efforts to develop local services that meet the needs of diverse student veteran populations