Ann Zukoski, DrPH MPH¹, Sharon Rosenkoetter, PhD², Joanne Knapp-Philo, PhD³, and Shannon Wanless, MA². (1) Department of Public Health, Oregon State University, 254 Waldo Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-6406, 541-737-3832, ann.zukoski@oregonstate.edu, (2) Human Development & Family Studies, Oregon State University, 14 Milam Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-5102, (3) Sonoma State University, California Institute on Human Services, One University Drive, Camarillo, CA 93012

As research continues to advance our understanding of the importance of early experiences, care giving relationships and larger social and environmental factors on the development of children, early childhood and public health experts are developing and testing programs aimed at improving socio-emotional and health outcomes for very young children (ages birth to 3) in high risk communities. This presentation will describe an innovative randomized control trial intervention designed to support the development of early language and emergent literacy skills in Early Head Start (EHS) communities. The StoryQUEST program is based on an ecological framework and seeks to improve developmental outcomes at three levels: infants/toddlers and their families, EHS caregivers and programs, and the community at large. This model is being tested in 19 diverse EHS programs located across the United States and includes10 control communities. A critical component of the program’s ecological approach is the emphasis on building community wide support for families and their young children. StoryQUEST EHS teams receive intensive training and follow up technical assistance to use community building strategies to improve services and support for early literacy development. This oral presentation will share findings from case studies capturing how six EHS teams used this training to create new partnerships and promising opportunities for families and their young children in high risk communities. Results presented will include findings on impact of involvement on EHS team members, families, and communities.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe elements of an ecological approach to building infant and toddler development in Early Head Start communities;
• Describe an innovative training and technical assistance program being tested in 19 communities across the United States;
• Discuss how community mobilization strategies can be applied with early childhood intervention programs such as Early Head Start to expand community commitment and efforts to foster childhood development.;
• Explore public health outcomes of teaching community mobilization strategies to widen community support of early childhood development as well as targeted developmental areas.

Keywords: Community Building, Child Health

Related Web page: www.sonoma.edu/cihs/storyquest/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am co-investigator on a US Deparment of Education Early Childhood Professional Development grant which supports this research.