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Early Start (New Zealand) Meets HHS Criteria

Last updated: July 2014

In Brief

Evidence of Model Effectiveness

This model meets the criteria established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for an “evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery model” for the general population, but does not meet the criteria for tribal populations.

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Model Description

Early Start is a voluntary home visiting program designed to improve child health, reduce child abuse, improve parenting skills, support parental physical and mental health, encourage family economic well-being, and encourage stable, positive partner relationships. Early Start was designed to be a mainstream program, targeting at-risk families with newborns and children up to age 5. However, the developers took steps to ensure that the model would also be culturally responsive to the Māori, an indigenous population of New Zealand. Home visitors deliver services at varying levels of intensity depending on the family’s needs. Families with the highest needs receive up to three hours of home visits and indirect contact per week (level 1), families with moderate needs receive up to three hours of home visiting every two weeks (level 2), and families with lower needs receive up to one hour of home visiting monthly (level 3). The fourth and final level of services includes up to one hour of contact every three months. Home visitors in consultation with their supervisors determine when a family is ready to progress to the next level. For more information, please read the Model Overview.

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Extent of Evidence

Early Start (New Zealand)
Results of Research and Review
Number of studies
Eligible for review
3
Rated high
0
Rated moderate
1
Rated low
0
Additional source1
2
Early Start (New Zealand) – Māori subgroup
Results of Research and Review
Number of studies
Eligible for review
1
Rated high
0
Rated moderate
1
Rated low
0
Additional source1
0

1Additional sources overlap with another study and are not rated.

For more information, see the study database. For more information on the criteria used to determine the study ratings, please read Producing Study Ratings.

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Summary of Findings

Outcome domain links to effects details by study.
Early Start (New Zealand)
Outcomes
Primary Outcome Measures
Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Child Development and School Readiness

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 2
No effect: 4
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 1
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 1

Outcome Child Health

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 2
No effect: 2
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 1
No effect: 2
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Family Economic Self-Sufficiency

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 0
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 4
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Linkages and Referrals

Not measured in high- or moderate-rated outcomes

Outcome Maternal Health

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 2
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 3
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Positive Parenting Practices

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 3
No effect: 0
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 1
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Reductions In Child Maltreatment

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 1
No effect: 0
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 1
No effect: 0
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Reductions in Juvenile Delinquency, Family Violence, and Crime

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 1
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 0
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Early Start (New Zealand) – Māori subgroup
Outcomes
Primary Outcome Measures
Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Child Development and School Readiness

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 2
No effect: 1
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 1
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Child Health

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 2
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 1
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Family Economic Self-Sufficiency

Not measured in high- or moderate-rated outcomes

Outcome Linkages and Referrals

Not measured in high- or moderate-rated outcomes

Outcome Maternal Health

Not measured in high- or moderate-rated outcomes

Outcome Positive Parenting Practices

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 2
No effect: 1
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 0
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Reductions In Child Maltreatment

Primary outcome measures:
Favorable: 0
No effect: 1
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0
Secondary outcome measures:
Favorable: 1
No effect: 0
Unfavorable or ambiguous: 0

Outcome Reductions in Juvenile Delinquency, Family Violence, and Crime

Not measured in high- or moderate-rated outcomes

Please read Describing Effects for more information on these categories. Only results from studies that meet the standards for the high or moderate ratings are included above.

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Criteria Established by the Department of Health and Human Services

Information Based on Comprehensive Review of All High- and Moderate-Impact Studies for this Model
High- or moderate-quality impact study?
Yes
Across high- or moderate-quality studies, favorable impacts in at least two outcome domains within one sample OR the same domain for at least two non-overlapping samples?
Yes
Favorable impacts on full sample?
Yes
Any favorable impacts on outcome measures sustained at least 12 months after model enrollment?1
Yes
One or more favorable, statistically significant impact reported in a peer-reviewed journal?1
Yes

1This information is reported for all models, but the requirements for sustained findings and inclusion in a peer-reviewed journal only apply to models for which all findings are from randomized controlled trials.

Please read the HHS Criteria for Evidence-Based Models for more information.

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