Family and Coach Responses to a Program for Fostering Infant Language

Abstract

This study investigated family and coach responses to a two-year community-based research program, Strong Beginnings for Babies (SBB), designed to support families in fostering infant language development. The study focused on families of infants from low-income backgrounds, as these children may be at risk for delayed language development. The majority of participants self-identified as Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin. Three coaches were hired to work closely with participating families during a series of group sessions where they modeled language promotion practices, provided feedback on families' implementation of practices, and reviewed measures of infants' home language environments with families. Analyses of surveys, interviews, and documents indicated that SBB proffered a number of benefits for both families and coaches. Benefits for families included increased knowledge about the importance of and practices for engaging in language interactions with their infants, as well as a sense of community with other families. Benefits for coaches included personal and professional opportunities for growth and positive relationships with participating families. Challenges and areas for improvement were also noted. Although families expressed a desire for more frequent and longer coaching sessions, coaches reported concerns about inconsistent program attendance and acknowledged the complexities of families' lives.