Family development program jumps on the fast track
Michael O'Malley
Editor-in-Chief
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This program, developed by a team of psychologists, focuses its efforts on preventing chronic violence and psychological ailments in high-risk children in both rural and urban areas. The program assists low-income families in household management and encourages proper education among children. Furthermore, the project aids in battling problems such as domestic violence, drug abuse and incest.
Kenneth Dodge, principal investigator of the fast track project, said the program also "helps parents become effective and competent in interacting with the school and actively participating in the child's education."
Parents and children volunteer for the program in order to learn social and family skills.
The intervention starts on the child's first day of first grade and continues until the completion of high school. Children involved receive tutoring and social support throughout the duration of the program. Guardians of the children receive social support as well as parenting lessons.
"We make home visits where we can help the family deal with family management, which includes making sure the bills are paid and that the family is organized," said Dodge. "We teach parents to avoid violent discipline and to be effective parents."
The Fast Track Project began in 1991 with the first cohort of students and added one group in each of the following two years.
The program implemented the intervention in four locations, including Seattle, rural areas in Appalachian Pennsylvania, Durham, N.C., as well as right here in Nashville.
Fast Track members studied two groups of high-risk kindergarten students, one of which participated in the program while the other received only traditional aid. After five years, the children involved in The Fast Track Project demonstrated less aggressive behavior as identified by the teacher as well as a decreased need for special education.
Because of its success, the program is being adopted throughout the nation. Countries including Great Britain and Australia also plan to implement the project.
Funding for the program comes from the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Drug Abuse and the United States Department of Education Safe and Drug Free Schools Program. In 1998, funding was renewed until Aug. 31, 2003.
After the funding is exhausted, the principal investigators would like to see the United States fund and implement The Fast Track Project in other areas in the nation. However, under the Bush administration the chances of receiving money to aid low-income families appear bleak.