Reducing developmental risks by additional staff hours: Effects of a government program to support day care centers with socially deprived children. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Franze, Marco; Biermann, Josefin; Weitmann, Kerstin; Hoffmann, Wolfgang
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 93(2018)
• Page Start: 240
• Page End: 247
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Social inequality -- Developmental screening -- Day care center -- Policy; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.07.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Abstract: To ameliorate effects of social inequalities on children's development the German federal state law for child day care and preschools provides additional funds for day care centers in socioeconomically deprived regions in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The goal of these funds is to support three to six year old children with developmental risks. Day care centers can choose to use these funds for the employment of additional staff. Our study aims to investigate whether the number of weekly working hours provided by this additional staff is associated with a reduction of developmental risks in 4 competence areas over one year. A multilevel linear model (n = 83 day care centers) reveals that additional working hours decrease the prevalence of children with developmental risks. These results provide evidence for a beneficial effect of the federal state law. Highlights: This law is a good example for the implementation of a valid early screening to enhance preschool children´s competencies. Additional working hours decrease the prevalence of children with developmental risks. The results provide evidence for a beneficial effect of the federal state law.