SMART Beginnings
The SMART Beginnings project aims to enhance school readiness in low-income families by promoting positive parenting practices and reducing psychosocial stressors starting shortly after a child's birth. It integrates two evidence-based interventions: the universal prevention strategy PlayReadVIP, which involves videotaping parent-child interactions and coaching parents, and the targeted Family Check-up (FCU) for families facing additional risks. Conducted in pediatric primary care settings in New York City and Pittsburgh, the project tests the combined model through a randomized control trial, using surveys and observational data to assess its effectiveness. The study seeks to determine if this integrated approach can significantly improve early school readiness outcomes, including social-emotional skills and self-regulation. Ultimately, it aims to inform both scientific and practical strategies for supporting low-income children's development.
Featured Publications
Guyon-Harris, K. L., Rosas, J., Dolcini-Catania, L., Mendelsohn, A., Morris, P., Gill, A., & Shaw, D. S. (2023). Validation of parenting your baby and parenting your toddler and associations with engagement in parenting intervention. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32(6), 1789-1804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02484-x
Canfield, C. F., Miller, E. B., Zhang, Y., Shaw, D., Morris, P., Galan, C., & Mendelsohn, A. L. (2023). Tiered universal and targeted early childhood interventions: Enhancing attendance across families with varying needs. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 63(2), 362-369. PMCID: PMC9937541
Miller, E. B., Roby, E., Zhang, Y., Coskun, L., Rosas, J. M., Scott, M. A., Gutierrez, J., Shaw, D. S., Mendelsohn, A. L., & Morris-Perez, P. A. (2022). Promoting cognitive stimulation in parents across infancy and toddlerhood: A randomized cslinical trial. The Journal of Pediatrics. PMID: 36481243 PMCID Journal - In Process.
Miller, E. B., Whipps M. D. M., Bogen, D. L., Morris, P. A., Mendelsohn, A. L., Shaw, D. S., & Gross, R.S. (2022). Collateral benefits from a school readiness intervention on breastfeeding: A cross-domain impact evaluation. Maternal and Child Nutrition. PMCID: PMC9749611
Miller, E. B., Canfield, C. F., Wippick, H., Shaw, D. S., Morris, P. A., & Mendelsohn, A. L. (2022). Predictors of television at bedtime and associations with toddler sleep and behavior outcomes in a Medicaid-eligible, racial/ethnic minority sample. Infant Behavior and Development. PMCID: PMC9177719