Learning from Experience: -- Copyright -- Contents -- PREFACE -- PART 1: REPORT OF THE PANEL -- Evaluating Early Childhood Demonstration Programs -- INTRODUCTION -- A Word on Definitions -- Plan of the Report -- PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, 1960-1975 -- THE PROGRAM AND POLICY CONTEXT OF THE 1980S -- IMPLICATIONS FOR OUTCOME MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION DESIGN -- Challenges to the Evaluator -- Diversity of Target Groups -- Diversity of Services -- Emphasis on the Social Environment -- Support Versus Intervention -- Individualization of Services -- Decentralization and Site Variation -- Indefinite Time Boundaries -- Integration of Services -- Lessons for Future Evaluations -- Rethinking Developmental Measures -- Measuring Quality of Life -- Assessing Effects on the Child's Social Milieu -- Assessing Effects on the Service Delivery System -- Defining "Treatments" -- Understanding Site Differences -- Measuring Costs and Cost Increments -- Generalizing From Successful Demonstrations -- Rethinking Evaluation Designs -- IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EVALUATION PROCESS -- Involving Multiple Constituencies in Selecting Outcome Measures -- Communicating with Multiple Audiences -- Building in Familiarity and Flexibility -- Drawing on and Contributing to Basic Social Science -- References -- PART 2: PAPERS -- The Health Impact of Early Childhood Programs: Perspectives from the Brookline Early Education Project -- RELEVANT ISSUES FACING EVALUATORS -- Defining Health and Its Borders -- Describing Health Status -- Describing Health Change -- Dealing with Low Prevalence Rates in Pediatric Morbidity -- Absence of Data on Normalcy -- Selecting Outcome Measures -- Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of a Health Program Evaluation -- Identifying the Evaluation Consumer -- Timing and Staging -- THE SCOPE OF CHILD HEALTH -- Background Variables -- Perinatal Influences.

Genetic Disorders -- Socioeconomic and Environmental Influences -- Health and Development Over Time -- "Graduate" Health Profile -- MEASUREMENT OF HEALTH OUTCOMES -- Standard Preventive Measures -- Assurance of Adequate Health Care -- Screening -- Immunizations -- Physical Examination -- Development Screening -- Beyond Screening: Detection -- Prevention -- Intervention -- PROTOTYPES OF EVALUATION -- Comparison Studies -- Outcome Studies Without Comparison Groups -- Longitudinal Study of Findings -- Case Argument Studies -- Process Studies of Health -- Tracer Studies -- Cost-Benefit Studies -- Choosing an Prototype -- CONCLUSION -- References -- Measuring the Outcomes of Day Care -- BACKGROUND -- Day Care in the United States: An Overview -- Who Cares About Day Care-and What Do They Care About? -- A TAXONOMY OF DAY CARE OUTCOMES -- Children's Experiences in Day Care -- The Physical Environment -- Supplementary Services -- Interaction with Care Givers and Peers -- Developmental Change -- Outcomes for Care Givers -- Outcomes for Families and Communities -- Parent-Child Interaction and Family Functioning -- Parent Preferences and Parent Satisfaction -- Parent-Care Giver Relations -- Effects on Employment and Income -- Conclusion -- Effects of Alternative Day Care Policies on the Child Care Service Delivery System -- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS -- References -- Informing Policy Makers About Programs for Handicapped Children -- THE HANDICAPPED CHILDREN'S EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM: DISCRETIONARY GRANTS FOR EARLY EDUCATION -- The Education for All Handicapped Children Act: Financial Assistance to Schools -- Federal Role in the Education of the Handicapped -- Outcomes of Interest to Congress -- Contributions Evaluators Can Make -- References -- Preschool Education for Disadvantaged Children -- EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS -- MEASUREMENT OF OUTCOMES.

Formative Program Evaluation -- Summarize Program Evaluation -- ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES -- LONG-TERM SUMMATIVE MEASURES -- References -- Comprehensive Family Service Programs: Special Features and Associated Measurement Problems -- INTRODUCTION -- OVERVIEW OF FAMILY POLICY RESEARCH -- Trends in Family Research -- Assumptions About Family Policy -- COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY PROGRAMS -- Program Descriptions -- Program Features -- The Mix of Support and Intervention -- The Individualization of Treatment -- Measurement Problems -- ASSESSING THE PROCESS OF INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT -- Systems of Records -- Systems of Observation -- ASSESSING OUTCOMES FOR INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS -- Features of the Program Evaluations -- Assessing Outcomes Across Multiple Domains -- Assessing Outcomes Within a Single Domain -- Selecting a Unit of Analysis -- Selecting Appropriate Comparisons -- Recommendations -- INTEGRATION OF FAMILY SERVICES -- Assumptions About Integration of Services -- Integration of Services: Expected Program Effects -- Effects on Families -- Effects on Service Agencies -- Effects on State or National Service Programs -- Evaluation Problems and Approaches -- Evaluating Effects on Families -- Evaluating Effects of Local, State, and National Programs -- CONCLUSION -- References -- The Evaluation Report: A Weak Link to Policy -- POLICY MAKERS: PEOPLE IN A RUSH -- EVALUATORS: PEOPLE CONCERNED WITH METHODS -- TWO REPORTS ARE NEEDED: ONE SCIENTIFIC, ONE POLICY -- Three Sample Policy Reports -- Report 1: Progress Toward a Free Appropriate Education -- Policy Perspective -- Policy Questions -- Methodology -- Format -- Report 2: Children at the Center -- Policy Perspective -- Policy Questions -- Methodology -- Format -- Report 3: Children Out of School in America -- Policy Perspective -- Policy Questions -- Methodology -- Format.

MEETING POLICY MAKERS' NEEDS -- References.