Having spent many years working with Better Beginnings, Better Futures; Best
Start; and many other community based early years intervention initiatives,
it's great to see research on these types of initiatives confirming their
long term social and economic benefits. 
 
This analysis was done on programs funded by the PNC Foundation
http://www.pnc.com/aboutus/pncfoundation.html.  PNC itself is a financial
services firm. Cost-benefit is a major emphasis of the study.
 
From the summary:
 
"Economic analyses of several early childhood interventions demonstrate that
effective programs can repay the initial investment with savings to
government and benefits to society down the road."
 
"The economic benefits of early childhood interventions are likely to be
greater for programs that effectively serve targeted, disadvantaged children
than for programs that serve lower-risk children." 

"It is important to acknowledge that our conclusions rest on a solid, but
still limited, evidence base. And that evidence base can always be
strengthened by further research and evaluation of early childhood
intervention programs. Nevertheless, for decisionmakers considering
investments in early childhood interventions, our findings indicate that a
body of sound research exists that can guide resource allocation decisions.
This evidence base sheds light on the types of programs that have been
demonstrated to be effective, the features associated with effective
programs, and the potential for returns to society that exceed the resources
invested in program delivery. These proven results signal the future promise
of investing early in the lives of disadvantaged children."

...

*	Current issue: http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/Current/ 

*	This issue:
http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2006/scout-060120.html
<http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2006/scout-060120.php>  

 ... 



Early Childhood Interventions: Proven Results, Future Promise 

http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG341.pdf 

A significant amount of intellectual hand wringing has gone on as of late
regarding the nature and importance of early childhood intervention
programs. Some have claimed that such programs (including Head Start) are
inherently a waste of money, while others tout their apparent ability to
increase future educational and life opportunities, particularly for the
under-privileged. This intriguing research report from the RAND Corporation,
authored by Rebecca Kilburn and Jill Cannon, provides compelling evidence
suggesting that well-designed programs for disadvantaged children age four
and younger can produce economic benefits that are quite significant. The
report contends that high quality early childhood programs can keep
children out of expensive special education programs; increase high school
graduation rates; reduce juvenile crime, and increase the number of students
who go on to college. Stimulating in its approach and its scholarly rigor,
this report will be quite useful and helpful to persons interested in such
policy issues. [KMG] <>  


 >From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2006.
http://scout.wisc.edu/ 

 
__________________________________
A. Simon Mielniczuk - Solutions Architect
 
ITS Co-operative Inc. Toronto, ON. Canada
 
www.itscooperative.com
 
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