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Estimating the effects of Head Start on parenting and child maltreatment

Author

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  • Zhai, Fuhua
  • Waldfogel, Jane
  • Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne

Abstract

We examine the effects of Head Start participation on parenting and child maltreatment in a large and diverse sample of low-income families in large U.S. cities (N=2807), using rich data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS). To address the issue of selection bias, we employ several analytic approaches, including logistic regressions with a rich set of pretreatment controls as well as propensity score matching models, comparing the effects of Head Start to any other arrangements as well as specific types of other arrangements. We find that compared to children who did not attend Head Start, children who did attend Head Start are less likely to have low access to learning materials and less likely to experience spanking by their parents at age five. Moreover, we find that the effects of Head Start vary depending on the specific types of other child care arrangements to which they are compared, with the most consistently beneficial protective effects seen when Head Start is compared to being home in exclusively parental care.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhai, Fuhua & Waldfogel, Jane & Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne, 2013. "Estimating the effects of Head Start on parenting and child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 1119-1129.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:35:y:2013:i:7:p:1119-1129
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.03.008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reichman, Nancy E. & Teitler, Julien O. & Garfinkel, Irwin & McLanahan, Sara S., 2001. "Fragile Families: sample and design," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4-5), pages 303-326.
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    3. Jens Ludwig & Douglas L. Miller, 2007. "Does Head Start Improve Children's Life Chances? Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(1), pages 159-208.
    4. Rajeev H. Dehejia & Sadek Wahba, 2002. "Propensity Score-Matching Methods For Nonexperimental Causal Studies," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 84(1), pages 151-161, February.
    5. Magnuson, Katherine A. & Ruhm, Christopher & Waldfogel, Jane, 2007. "Does prekindergarten improve school preparation and performance?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 33-51, February.
    6. Taylor, C.A. & Guterman, N.B. & Lee, S.J. & Rathouz, P.J., 2009. "Intimate partner violence, maternal stress, nativity, and risk for maternal maltreatment of young children," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(1), pages 175-183.
    7. Berger, Lawrence & Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne & Paxson, Christina & Waldfogel, Jane, 2008. "First-year maternal employment and child outcomes: Differences across racial and ethnic groups," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 365-387, April.
    8. Alberto Abadie & Guido W. Imbens, 2006. "Large Sample Properties of Matching Estimators for Average Treatment Effects," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 74(1), pages 235-267, January.
    9. Alberto Abadie & Guido W. Imbens, 2002. "Simple and Bias-Corrected Matching Estimators for Average Treatment Effects," NBER Technical Working Papers 0283, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lee, Sei-Young & Benson, Stephanie M. & Klein, Sacha M. & Franke, Todd M., 2015. "Accessing quality early care and education for children in child welfare: Stakeholders' perspectives on barriers and opportunities for interagency collaboration," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 170-181.
    2. Lipscomb, Shannon T. & Hatfield, Bridget & Lewis, Hillary & Goka-Dubose, Emiko & Fisher, Philip A., 2019. "Strengthening children’s roots of resilience: Trauma-responsive early learning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Lee, RaeHyuck & Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne & Han, Wen-Jui & Waldfogel, Jane & Zhai, Fuhua, 2014. "Is participation in Head Start associated with less maternal spanking for boys and girls?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 55-63.
    4. Ha, Yoonsook & Collins, Mary Elizabeth & Martino, David, 2015. "Child care burden and the risk of child maltreatment among low-income working families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 19-27.
    5. Cotter, Allison & Proctor, Kaitlin B. & Brestan-Knight, Elizabeth, 2018. "Assessing child physical abuse: An examination of the factor structure and validity of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale (CTSPC)," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 467-475.
    6. Klein, Sacha & Fries, Lauren & Emmons, Mary M., 2017. "Early care and education arrangements and young children's risk of foster placement: Findings from a National Child Welfare Sample," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 168-178.
    7. Meloy, Mary Elizabeth & Lipscomb, Shannon T. & Baron, Madeline J., 2015. "Linking state child care and child welfare policies and populations: Implications for children, families, and policymakers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 30-39.
    8. Maguire-Jack, Kathryn & Hardi, Felicia & Stormer, Bri & Lee, Joyce Y. & Feely, Megan & Rostad, Whitney & Ford, Derek C. & Merrick, Melissa T. & Murphy, Catherine A. & Bart. Klika, J., 2022. "Early childhood education and care policies in the U.S. And their impact on family violence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    9. Lin, Ching-Hsuan & Wiley, Angela R., 2017. "The relationship of relative child care and parenting behaviors in fragile families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 130-138.
    10. Maria D. Fitzpatrick & Cassandra Benson & Samuel R. Bondurant, 2020. "Beyond Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic: The Role of Teachers and Schools in Reporting Child Maltreatment," NBER Working Papers 27033, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. Klein, Sacha & Merritt, Darcey H. & Snyder, Susan M., 2016. "Child welfare supervised children's participation in center-based early care and education," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 80-91.
    12. Saitadze, Inga, 2021. "Mediating effects of early childhood programs and high quality home environments on the cognitive development of poor children involved in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).

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