Research / Evaluation
Healthy Families New York (HFNY) Research Projects
Since 1995, the Research Team (Center for Human Services Research/ University at Albany/ SUNY /School of Social Welfare (CHSR) and the New York State Office of Children and Families, Bureau of Evaluation and Research) have been conducting a variety of studies of Healthy Families New York, a multi-site program designed to prevent child abuse and neglect, increase parental self sufficiency, and enhance child health and development. HFNY is based on a national model of home visiting services being delivered in over 400 communities across the US. Studies on HFNY include the following:
HFNY Randomized Trial
The Research Team has been conducting a randomized trial of Healthy Families New York since 2000. Originally, over 1,000 women were interviewed annually for 3 years. In 2006, additional funding was received from the National Institute of Justice and Doris Duke Foundation to re-interview families at 7 years to test the long term effects of the program. In the study, expectant and new parents are assigned to either a treatment group (offered home visiting services) or a control group (did not receive home visiting). The study compares these women and their children over time to assess program outcomes. CAPI, a computerized interviewing system, is utilized to gather most of the data. In addition to survey data, an observational study is being conducted that involves videotaping mothers and children to assess parent-child interaction and child development. Noldus, a video-coding software program, is being utilized to analyze the observational data. In September 2004, the first year findings were presented to the Governor and the Legislature in a report entitled “Evaluation of Healthy Families New York: First Year Program Impacts.” Continued analysis is being conducted and additional reports and publications are being prepared for presentation at conferences and to peer-reviewed journals.
HFNY Case Record Reviews
Risk factors like domestic violence, substance abuse and mental illness have an important impact on women in the home visiting program. To gain a better understanding of how these risk factors are handled by program staff, the Research Team is reviewing and coding 150 home visiting case records.
HFNY Research Practice Committee
The Research Team actively participates in an interdisciplinary team of HFNY program administrators, trainers, and evaluators. These quarterly meetings are involved in a groundbreaking effort to integrate research findings with program modifications.
HFNY Worker Studies
CHSR has conducted a series of focus groups with home visitors and designed and administered a survey at 20 sites. These findings are relevant to the broad debate of home visiting service delivery by paraprofessionals.
HFNY Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
The Research Team is working with the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASAS) to evaluate a federally funded pilot project to reduce fetal alcohol spectrum disorders for home visiting participants.
