The Guidance Center and its Walter White Community Resource Center designed and implemented a comprehensive community-driven, socially-innovative approach to kindergarten readiness. Their intervention, Families and Schools Together (FAST), is a multi-family learning and support group that focuses on the developmental and behaviorally based needs of preschool-age children as well as the needs of their parents. FAST programs last for 10 weeks of 2 ½ hour meetings each week.

The evaluation utilized a quasi-experimental design with a pre/post test and a non-random pseudo-control group comprised of the national FAST evaluation sample. The Guidance Center reported that three cohorts of FAST were implemented. Over 100 families were recruited for FAST; 50% of those agreed to attend; 46% attended at least one session; and 46% graduated (21 families in total graduated).

The evaluation found statistically significant improvement in:

  • Parent's relationship with the FAST child;
  • Reduction in conduct problems for the FAST child as reported by parents;
  • Improved community-social relationships for parents;
  • Improved total social relationships for parents;
  • Tangible support for parents (help with cooking, chores, child time);
  • Emotional support (listening, getting together, getting advice);
  • Total support for parents.

Full report

Full Report
UWSEM_TheGuidanceCenter_Final_Report_Brief_FINAL_051817_508.pdf
UWSEM_TheGuidanceCenter_Final_Report_v2_041917_508.pdf

Further information

Program/Intervention
Families and Schools Together (FAST)
Implementing Organization
The Guidance Center
Intermediary(s)

United Way of Southeastern Michigan

AmeriCorps Program(s)
Social Innovation Fund
Outcome Category
School readiness
Study Type(s)
Outcomes
Study Design(s)
Quasi-Experimental (QED)
Level of Evidence
Preliminary
Published Year
2015
Study Site Location (State)
Michigan