Child and Family Outcomes of the European Early Promotion Project

Abstract

This chapter concerns the outcomes for the families involved in the European Early Promotion Project and presents data collected when the children were between six and eight weeks old and when they were 24 months old. A total of 824 families were recruited from the five countries involved. At baseline, differences were found between country samples in the extent and type of need (Finnish families having the lowest risk factor rates and Serbia the highest, for example), but recruitment was generally successful in including families from the whole range of need, excluding those with the most severe physical and psychiatric problems. Although not randomised, Intervention families (receiving the EEPP service) were reasonably matched with Comparison families (receiving usual services) on most variables initially, except in Greece, where Intervention families were somewhat more at risk. At 24 months, in spite of low intensity of service provision and methodological difficulties likely to reduce effects, there was evidence, particularly in Greece, of differences in outcome favouring the Intervention group, who also showed significantly higher levels of satisfaction with the intervention they had received. It was concluded that the service merits further exploration to assist in understanding promotional and preventative processes.

Keywords:

• primary prevention
• psychosocial problems
• children
• families
• effectiveness
• home visiting