Program and impact evaluation of the healthy start program (HSP)

• Main Authors: Blace, Nestor Pabiona, Enriquez, Carmelo B., Cheung, Mary Mae M., Garcia, Leila
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2011
• Subjects: Child care—Philippines—Cotabato (South); Family, Life Course, and Society; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/9276
• Institution: De La Salle University

A. Background The Healthy Start Program (HSP) is a parent capacity building program to equip them in early childhood care and development and in nurturing practices for children aged 0- 3 years old. The program is anchored on the belief that teaching parents and caregivers to nurture, protect and provide children with the right kind of positive growth stimulation in homes and childhood environment will prevent child abuse and neglect. Consuelo Foundation brings this program to impoverished communities where many high risk families live. One such area that Consuelo Foundation implemented the HSP is in Barangay Kematu in the Municipality of T’boli in South Cotabato, wherein 90% of the inhabitants belong to the T’boli tribe, one of the indigenous peoples groups in the province. The HSP is Kematu was implemented by the T’boli Tribal Leaders Development Foundation, Inc. (TLFDI) from June 2007 to December 2011. To determine the effectiveness and impact of the HSP on the lives of its target beneficiaries, the Consuelo Foundation commissioned the Notre Dame Business Resource Center Foundation, Inc (NDBRCFI) to do an evaluation of the said project. The evaluation results are expected to provide analytical basis for decision-making particularly in the areas of prioritization and future directions of the HSP. The main areas of analysis of the evaluation are on: relevance (how much has the project contributed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect); efficiency and effectiveness (how much has the project delivered outputs and outcomes); sustainability (how much of the HSP benefits are continued); and, recommendations for enhancement and expansion of the HSP in an indigenous community setting.B. Methodology, Evaluation Activities and Team The evaluation of the HSP and its impact was done by using the descriptive and comparative research methods utilizing the mixed methodology (quantitative and qualitative) of research design. The evaluation employed the following approaches and methods of data gathering: review of project documents, survey, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews, and comparative study. The main sources of information in the evaluation were program beneficiaries, family support workers (FSWs), program implementers or TLDFI staff, and other stakeholders such as non-partner families, community leaders, and representatives of government and nongovernment organizations. The evaluation team was headed by Dr. Nestor Blace, PhD as team leader and the other members included Carmelo H. Enriquez, Dr. Mary Mae Cheung, PhD, and, Leila Garcia, MAN.C. Main Findings The evaluation found the HSP in Kematu in T’boli Municipality relevant, effective, efficient and sustainable to a large degree.1. Relevance The project is highly relevant because:1) Its pro-active approach of preventing child abuse and neglect is very important and timely to the Philippine situation in general and in the target community in particular; and contributes to the attainment of the rights of the child, and the millennium development goals; 2) It targeted the appropriate beneficiaries who belong the tribal groups in T’boli, who have low economic standing, having poor health conditions and practices, and with low literacy levels; 3) It utilized the right approach of partnering with TLFDI, local NGO which has experience in social development and with thorough knowledge of local conditions; in having T’bolis as FSWs; and in having the HSP which is a tested concept and approach; 4) It contributed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect among the target beneficiaries wherein: a. Education of 98% of parents in caring for their children in a holistic manner and not only physiologically as what they were used to b. Education of 96% of parents in child protection and neglect c. 95% of parents learned and practiced improved ways of disciplining children d. All partner-parents signified improved relationships among the spouses leading them to become better parents2. Effectiveness The project is highly effective because: 1) It accomplished all targets set forth in the project objectives within the designated timeframe2) It imparted knowledge, skills and practices on maternal care and early childhood development (such as pre-natal, post-natal, baby care basics), and in discipline formation to all the partner-parents 3) It imparted knowledge, skills and practices on family life management (sanitation, family planning, handling stress, and emphasis on education) to 98% of partner-parents 4) It enhanced parent-child relationships among all partner-families 5) It established significant differences among beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries using the 24-month and 36-month ASQ 6) It showed differences in health and behavioral characteristics among partner and non-partner babies 7) It showed difference between partner and non-partner parents in terms of having better relationships 3. EfficiencyThe project is highly efficient because: 1) It delivered all outputs within the approved budget during the entire implementation period 2) It had a simple and workable organizational set-up which supervised project implementation and submitted all required reports on time 3) It provided narrative and photo documentation on all activities, and even translated some of training materials in T’boli4. SustainabilityThe project is sustainable because: 1) There is continuation of practices and learnings particularly on health and family life management by 95% of all partner-parents 2) There is application of practices and learnings to other succeeding children (particularly on health and discipline) by 85% of partnerparents 3) There is continuation of improved parent-child relationships among all beneficiaries 4) It improved self-esteem and self-confidence among 85% of mothers 5) It inculcated the importance of education to almost all partner-families 6) There is continued availment of community resources by half of the partner-families5. Lessons Learned 1. The HSP is way to develop the self-esteem of people, particularly of the women. 2. Skills and knowledge development provides opportunities for personal and professional growth for FSWs. 3. Simple and practical lessons used by the HSP in teaching people go a long way. One such example is the washing of hands or maintaining hygiene to avoid health problems. Another example seeking medical help early enough to avoid serious consequences. 4. Access to other community resources expands the coverage of a project. 5. Stressing the importance of education (kindly expound on what the lesson is). 6. While respecting and preserving cultural practices, new perspectives are learned. A very good example would be changing the mindset of fathers to become more caring and loving to their children. 6. Recommendations a. Provide more emphasis on the livelihood component; b. Add group activities or common undertakings, particularly those that enhance pride as a tribe; c. Replicate the HSP in tribal communities found in remote areas where such services are severely lacking; d. Partner with a reliable and experienced NGO; e. Establish strong partnership with receptive local government at the earliest stage; f. Promote or market the HSP model among LGUs for possible adoption with Consuelo as technical assistance partner to scale up coverage in the province; g. Conduct of parallel ASQ with non-partner babies to serve as benchmark; h. Have more interesting activities to involve the fathers.