The effects of early education intervention on maternal employment, public assistance, and health insurance: the infant health and development program.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test whether early education intervention influences maternal employment, education, fertility, and receipt of public assistance and health insurance. The Infant Health and Development Program is a randomized trial of the efficacy of early education on the outcomes of 985 low-birthweight, premature children. Families in eight sites received either pediatric follow-up and referral (follow-up only group) or pediatric services plus early intervention services (intervention group) for the first 3 years of the child's life. Mothers in the intervention group were employed more months and returned to the work force earlier than those in the follow-up only group. Fertility and education were not associated with treatment. Mothers who had some college education received more months of public assistance in the intervention group compared with the follow-up only group. Mothers who were employed received more public assistance and public health insurance in the intervention group compared with the follow-up only group, when maternal employment was controlled. Findings are discussed in terms of the recent emphasis on two-generational programs directed to providing health, welfare, and child care services to young children and their families.