Biomedical subjects

Michael L Bloomquist

Publications and source records attributed to Michael L Bloomquist.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Can evidence-based prevention programs be sustained in community practice settings? The Early Risers' Advanced-Stage Effectiveness Trial.

This study evaluated institutional sustainability of the Early Risers "Skills for Success" conduct problems prevention program. In a previous early-stage effectiveness trial Early Risers had been successfully implemented by a nonprofit community agency with guidance, supervision, technical assistance and fiscal support/oversight provided by program developers. The current advanced-stage effectiveness trial applied a randomized, control group design to determine whether this community agency could replicate earlier positive findings with a new cohort of participants, but with less direct involvement of program developers. An intent-to-intervene strategy was used to compare children randomly assigned to Early Risers or a no-intervention comparison group. Compared to results obtained in an early-stage effectiveness trial, program attendance rates were much lower and only one positive outcome was replicated. Failure to replicate program effects was not attributed to poor program implementation, because data collected pertaining to exposure, adherence and quality of delivery were acceptable, and a participation analysis showed that families who attended at higher levels did benefit. It was difficulties that the community agency experienced in engaging families in program components at recommended levels that primarily accounted for the results. Possible organizational barriers that impeded sustainability included unreliable transportation, poor collaboration between the agency and the local public school system, high staff turnover, agency downsizing, and fiduciary responsibility and accountability. It was concluded that both program developers and program providers need to be proactive in planning for sustainability.

Child↗

PubMed2006

Implementing an evidence-based preventive intervention in neighborhood family centers: examination of perceived barriers to program participation.

: This study examined parents' perceived barriers to participation in a multicomponent prevention program implemented by a community agency serving culturally diverse urban neighborhoods. The Early Risers Participation Interview (ER-PI), modeled after Kadzin et al.'s (1997) Barriers to Treatment Participation Scale, was administered to parents (N = 138) of children who were screened for disruptive behavior and were randomized into a two-year intervention condition. Results showed that the perceived barriers score provided significant information in differentiating low and high participators after controlling for child, parent, and family characteristics. Early identification and resolution of parents' perceived barriers to participation may be key to implementing multifaceted preventive programs successfully in inner-city neighborhoods. EDITOR'S STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS: The authors present promising practices for client engagement and retention. The experimental, longitudinal design is notable, especially in the evaluation of a community-run prevention program.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Dissemination of an evidence-based prevention innovation for aggressive children living in culturally diverse, urban neighborhoods: the Early Risers effectiveness study.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Early Risers "Skills for Success" Program when implemented by neighborhood family resource centers available to urban children and their families. Kindergarten and first-grade children (n = 327) enrolled in 10 schools were screened for aggressive behavior, and randomized to two model variations of the Early Risers Program or a no-intervention control condition. The full-strength model (CORE + FLEX) included child and parent/family components whereas the partial model (CORE-only) offered only the child component. The intervention was delivered over two continuous years. CORE + FLEX children showed higher levels of program attendance than their CORE-only counterparts but no differences on outcomes measures were observed between models. When both program models were collapsed and compared to controls, program children showed significant gains on measures of school adjustment and social competence, the most aggressive program children showed reductions in disruptive behavior, and program parents reported reduced levels of stress.

Aggression↗

PubMed2002

The early risers longitudinal prevention trial: examination of 3-year outcomes in aggressive children with intent-to-treat and as-intended analyses.

The effects of participation following a 3-year preventive intervention trial targeting elementary school children with early-onset aggressive behavior were evaluated. Intent-to-treat analyses revealed that program participants, compared with controls, showed greater gains in social skills, academic achievement, and parent discipline, with mean scores in the normative range on the latter two constructs. As-intended participation in the Family Program, which included separate parent and child education and skills-training groups, was associated with improved parent discipline practices and gains in children's social skills, with level of child aggression moderating gains in academic achievement. Recommended level of FLEX family support contact time was associated with gains in academic achievement, concentration problems, and social skills, with parents of severely aggressive children showing greater reductions in parent distress.

Achievement↗