Findings Reveal Success for Early Intervention School Readiness Program
New research findings on Florida's families were announced at the recent statewide conference of The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program. The HIPPY program is designed to increase vulnerable children's success in school, and the numbers on increased reading in the home reflect parents' increased confidence in their abilities to be teachers for their children.
"I am pleased to know that through their participation in HIPPY, parents are spending more time reading with their children,” said Governor Jeb Bush. “Our purpose is to establish literacy as a value in every family and reinforce the belief that home is a child's first school, parents are a child's first teachers and reading is a child's first subject."
HIPPY, a home based early childhood education program for parents of three, four and five year old children, provides training for parents, many of whom have limited formal education and are hard-pressed by circumstances, and may not feel confident in preparing their children with school readiness skills. Sponsored by various agencies including school districts, education service cooperatives, community action agencies, Head Start and universities, well-trained home visitors teach parents to use a developmentally appropriate curriculum for their young child to gain necessary school readiness skills. For 30 weeks, parents spend an average of fifteen minutes per day teaching important concepts to their child.
In 2001-02, there were 16 Florida HIPPY programs in 16 counties serving 1,645 children and 1,496 families. Recently, the Florida HIPPY Training and Technical Assistance Center at the University of South Florida collected data from 13 Florida programs to document the influence of HIPPY on children’s school performance and school involvement, parents’ involvement in their children’s education, and parents’ education, training and employment.
"I am excited about the findings from the Florida statewide parent survey,” said Mary Lindsey, Florida HIPPY State Director. “Over eighty-seven percent of our parents reported that as a result of participating in the HIPPY program, they understand the importance of reading with their children. At least seventy percent of parents reported that they were reading with their children either daily or at a minimum three times per week. In addition, eighty percent of the parents also reported that the amount of time they spend reading has increased since becoming a HIPPY parent. We all know that Reading Is Fundamental and that when parents, communities, and schools work together to support learning, children tend to be more successful in school and become life long learners."
Findings also reveal that over half of the HIPPY parents who reported information on job advancement had received a promotion or assumed additional responsibilities since becoming a part of HIPPY, and 23% of these parents felt that participating in HIPPY was helpful in receiving their promotions.
The Florida Statewide HIPPY conference was held at the Comfort Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Tampa February 14-16. It provided workshops throughout the weekend that included topics helpful to both parents, paraprofessionals and trainers. They included: Fundamentals for a Joyful, Humorous Family Life; Readers Digest Version to Helping your Child Read; DADS SUPPORTING LADS: Fathers Speak Out on Their Perceived Roles in the Education of Their Children; Communicating Effectively with Parents; and, HIPPY Families Dealing with Stress.
Additional information on the HIPPY program can be found at the HIPPY website, or contact HIPPY State Director Mary Lindsey at 813-974-2177 for information on survey findings.
The Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) is a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.