Play and Learning Strategies (PALS)
Entries in this row combine information across all versions of PALS except for PALS Infant. Some other versions of PALS have at least one high- or moderate-quality impact study, but no version of the model other than PALS Infant meets HHS criteria for an evidence-based home visiting model.
Last updated: October 2019
In Brief
Evidence of Model Effectiveness
PALS Infant 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 because there are no high- or moderate-rated effectiveness studies of the model as implemented with a tribal population.
PALS Toddler/Preschooler and the combination of PALS Infant + Toddler/Preschooler do not meet the HHS criteria for the general population or for tribal populations because the findings from high- or moderate-rated effectiveness studies of those model versions do not meet all required criteria.
Model Description
Play and Learning Strategies (PALS) is designed to strengthen parent–child bonding and stimulate children’s early language, cognitive, and social development. There are two versions of the model: PALS Infant curriculum for families with children 5 to 18 months, which consists of 10 weekly sessions; and PALS Toddler/Preschooler curriculum for children 18 months through 4 years, which consists of 12 weekly sessions. Both versions are offered through 90-minute home visits conducted by a parent educator. This report also includes a review of PALS Infant + Toddler/Preschooler which refers to the combined Infant + Toddler/Preschooler curricula. Parent educators are required to receive training and certification from the model developer, the Children’s Learning Institute at the University of Texas Health Science Center. The Children’s Learning Institute recommends that PALS be implemented by agencies with sustained funding mechanisms and organizational structures that can support model continuity, such as Head Start, Early Head Start, and not-for-profit early childhood agencies. For more information, please read the Model Overview.
Extent of Evidence
For more information, see the study database. For more information on the criteria used to determine the study ratings, please read Producing Study Ratings.
Summary of Findings
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.
Criteria Established by the Department of Health and Human Services
Please read the HHS Criteria for Evidence-Based Models for more information.