Parents Making a Difference

This book delivers a comprehensive picture of HIPPY, a family support, parent-focused, early childhood literacy program. With 17 evaluation studies of the program, offered by researchers and practitioners from seven different countries, the book highlights the successes and challenges HIPPY faces in communities around the world.

Dedicated to HIPPY's founder, Professor Avima D. Lombard, the collection presented here aims to provide answers to the different questions that might arise among all kinds of stakeholders, from program practitioners to policy markers to family members to researchers. The studies are organized around five themes: exploring theoretical perspectives; examining HIPPY's impact on children, on families and on communities; and navigating the research process. An in-depth introduction describes the various purposes of the book, outlines the contents of each chapter, and provides, in the form of two unique tables, detailed information that can be used as a reference for many stake-holders. With the goal that the book be as accessible and useful to program practitioners as to researchers, each chapter is followed by suggestions on how to integrate the evaluation findings into the daily life of the program. The result is a volume that can serve as an invaluable tool for international early literacy and family support program development, while also offering direction for the future course of the HIPPY's program.