Abstract

The research study, Effective Practices of Foster Grandparents in Head Start Centers, was conducted by Westat, Inc. for the Corporation for National and Community Service in 1998. Findings from intensive observations in six classrooms in urban and rural communities indicate that Foster Grandparents engage in a wide range of activities and behaviors associated with positive developmental outcomes for children.

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Issue

The purpose of the study was to learn more about what Foster Grandparents do in Head Start programs and how their contributions benefit the children they serve. Research findings also provide a foundation for future studies of Foster Grandparent Programs and their impact on children in Head Start programs.

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Action

Evidence from intensive observations across six classrooms in urban and rural communities indicates that Foster Grandparents engage in a variety of activities and behaviors (based on the Arnett Scale of 14 Caregiver Behaviors) that are associated with positive developmental outcomes for children. These behaviors include:

• Engaging in a range of positive person-to-person interactions with children over the course of the day, by listening attentively, encouraging and acknowledging accomplishments
• Developing or reinforcing positive social behaviors through modeling, encouraging children to try new activities with friends, and acknowledging individual contributions to group tasks
• Providing children with constructive guidance and feedback by helping them make productive choices and redirecting misbehavior

Five effective classroom practices of teachers that contribute to the effectiveness of the Foster Grandparents were identified:

• Classroom teachers model positive caregiver behaviors by interacting proactively with children and modeling a range of developmentally appropriate practices
• Classroom teachers communicate with the Foster Grandparents about activities or events of the day and guided the Foster Grandparents as to which children needed special attention
• Teachers talk to the Foster Grandparents about the needs of specific children and the sorts of activities or interactions that will help them
• Classroom teachers and Foster Grandparents transform mundane chores into enjoyable and productive learning experiences for the children
• Teachers help facilitate a place and time for Foster Grandparents to gather and interact with one another about their service to children

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Citation

Westat, Inc. 1998. Effective Practices of Foster Grandparents in Head Start Centers. Rockville, MD.

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Outcome

The study found that Foster Grandparents contributed to positive results for children in five domains:

1. Emotional well-being — Provided nurturing so the children felt cared for and calmed children who were anxious, tired, or irritable.
2. Self-esteem and self-efficacy — Gave nearly every child their undivided attention at one time or another in the course of the day and structured activities so that children could experience success.
3. Social and behavioral skills development — Encouraged children to cooperate and share with one another; modeled and encouraged development of positive health and nutrition; modeled good manners and self-reliance; redirected undesirable behavior; and briefly and calmly stated the reason why a particular behavior was desirable or undesirable.
4. Language development — Non-English speaking children and children with speech impediments felt more comfortable and were able to develop and learn new skills.
5. Cognitive development — Developed or reinforced the children's preliteracy and numeracy skills, as well as expanding the children's knowledge base.

Foster Grandparents also contribute to increasing the amount of individualized attention the children are given, supporting a calming environment in the classroom, supporting transitions from one activity to the next, providing continuity when a teacher is absent or leaves the classrooms, and educating the community.

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Source Documents

Related Practices

• Offering orientation and in-service training to Foster Grandparents
• Pairing Foster Grandparents with children in Head Start
• Sharing resources between Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs

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