Graduation Date
1997
Document Type
Project
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Elizabeth Watson
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Marianne Pennekamn
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Jack Turner
Keywords
Sociology
Subject Categories
Sociology
Abstract
My project consists of an examination of an initiative called Healthy Start, which was developed to better the lives of children and families. The objective of Healthy Start is to make improvements with children and families in terms of school performance and physical and social well-being. The Healthy Start Support Services for Children Act (Senate Bill 620) is California's first statewide effort to place comprehensive support services at the school site. During my study, I investigated five Healthy Start sites in Northern California, four of which are located in Humboldt county. My reason for doing this project is to evaluate the initiative and is based on my great concern for the well-being of children and families. My objective was to understand how the initiative is working and to what degree the schools are similar and different in their efforts. My method is in the form of a descriptive study consisting of in-depth interviews. Because no names are used in my study, there are no potential risks for the human subjects involved. The results of my project are expected to be informative and beneficial to those individuals working at the Northern California sites I have studied One conclusion I have drawn from my study is that Healthy Start in these particular schools is accomplishing its goals. I have not suggested that any of my findings should be used to generalize for the State of California as a whole. Rather, my descriptions are very specific examples of how Healthy Start is working in these five schools based on the interpretation of the team members I interviewed.
Recommended Citation
Hardy, Michelle, "Healthy Start: Strengthening the Lives of Children and Families" (1997). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2404.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2404