The survey of well‐being of young children: results of a feasibility study with american indian and alaska native communities

This study examined the feasibility of the Survey of Well‐Being of Young Children (SWYC), a new screener for socioemotional and developmental problems and family risk in children birth to age 5 years, for use in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. A Community of Learning within the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center, composed of university researchers, tribal early childhood program staff and evaluators, and federal partners, utilized a community‐based participatory research approach to guide this qualitative study. Thirty‐two focus groups and 20 key informant interviews (N = 199) were conducted with staff from Head Start, Home Visiting, and Child Care programs; pediatricians; behavioral health providers; parents of young children; tribal leaders; and other stakeholders in seven diverse AIAN communities. Three themes emerged: (a) a strong need to screen early for socioemotional and developmental problems and family risk; (b) the importance of a carefully designed process for screening; and (c) the importance of examining the content of the SWYC for cultural fit specific to tribal communities. Findings support two recommendations: (a) the development of guidelines for using the SWYC in tribal early childhood settings and (b) a full‐scale validation study to determine appropriate use with and norms for children in tribal communities. RESUMEN Este estudio examinó la viabilidad de la Encuesta de Bienestar de Niños Pequeños (SWYC) – una formulac...
Source: Infant Mental Health Journal - Category: Child Development Authors: Tags: ARTICLE Source Type: research