title: Parent Engagement and School Readiness: Effects of the Getting Ready Intervention on Preschool Children's Social-Emotional Competencies.
abstract: RESULTS
  Parental engagement with children has been linked to a number of adaptive characteristics in preschool children, and relationships between families and professionals are an important contributor to school readiness. Furthermore, social-emotional competence is a key component of young children's school readiness. This study reports the results of a randomized trial of a parent engagement intervention (Getting Ready) designed to facilitate school readiness among disadvantaged preschool children, with a particular focus on social-emotional outcomes. Two hundred and twenty children were involved over the 4-year study period. Statistically significant differences were observed between treatment and control participants in the rate of change over a 2-year period on teacher reports for certain interpersonal competencies (i.e., attachment, initiative, and anxiety/ withdrawal). In contrast, no statistically significant differences between groups over a 2-year period were noted for behavioral concerns (anger/aggression, self-control, or behavioral problems) as a function of the Getting Ready intervention.
  The intervention appears to be particularly effective at building social-emotional competencies beyond the effects experienced as a function of participation in Head Start programming alone. Limitations and implications for future research are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Knoche
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: Carolyn P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bovaird
authors.affiliation: Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kupzyk