Research Presentations

Child Executive Functioning in Nebraska Educare Programs

This session presents three papers using Educare of Nebraska executive functioning (EF) data (Lincoln, Omaha Indian Hill, Omaha Kellom, and Winnebago), from the Minnesota Executive Functioning Scale (MEFS). This session will highlight associations of executive functioning with child sex, age and parent child relationships. The session will also highlight growth/variation in children’s EF over time. Additionally, varying EF results based on child sex from an innovative study of handheld devices will be shared. The presentation reviews and synthesizes meaning for programs promoting executive functioning.

JOLENE JOHNSON Assistant Professor/Associate Director of Education & Interdisciplinary Center of Program Evaluation Department of Education and Interdisciplinary Center of Program Evaluation University of Nebraska Medical Center HELEN RAIKES Willa Cather Professor Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies University of Nebraska — Lincoln DAWN DAVIS Project Manager Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies University of Nebraska Omaha

MASHAEL ALTWIJRI Graduate Assistant/Doctoral Student Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies University of Nebraska — Lincoln JAN ESTERAICH Graduate Assistant/Ph.D. Candidate Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies University of Nebraska — Lincoln

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Teachers and Parents as Partners: How it Works for Students With ADHD

This study is a subgroup analysis of a larger randomized trial of conjoint behavioral consultation (CBC). Two hundred four elementary students were classified as having or not having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to test if ADHD status moderates initial treatment effects or the maintenance of effects over 12 months. Results indicated that CBC is effective, with greater improvements for children with ADHD; however, these gains deteriorated over 12 months only for students with ADHD.

MATTHEW GORMLEY

Assistant Professor

Department of Educational Psychology
University of Nebraska — Lincoln

PAUL DIZONA

Graduate Student

Department of Educational Psychology
University of Nebraska — Lincoln

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Executive Function and Challenging Behaviors in Preschool-Age Children

The relationship between challenging behaviors and executive function (EF) in 19 preschool children participating in a parent-professional collaborative partnership intervention was examined using a mixed methods approach. Quantitative analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between children’s problem behaviors and their overall executive function. Four of the 19 children were purposefully followed for qualitative study, and six themes emerged. Quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated to further our understanding regarding preschoolers’ challenging behaviors and EF skills.

MIRIAM KUHN Assistant Professor Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders University of Nebraska Omaha COURTNEY BOISE Graduate Assistant Department of Psychology University of Nebraska — Lincoln

CHRISTINE MARVIN Professor Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders University of Nebraska — Lincoln

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Observation of Dynamic Child Development Setting Systems and Behavioral Outcomes

Community population health and development for children are the result of children interacting with places where they live, learn and play across a geographic area. This presentation will describe a novel observation system that characterizes social system drivers of children’s behavior within diverse community settings. Data will illustrate that child development settings are dynamic, and heterogeneous social systems and the pattern of variability in behavioral outcomes are driven by temporal changes in context.

DAVID DZEWALTOWSKI

Professor and Endowed Community Chair

Department of Health Promotion
University of Nebraska Medical Center

CHELSEY SCHLECHTER

Research Associate

Department of Health Promotion
University of Nebraska Medical Center

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The Superintendents' Early Childhood Plan: A Birth Through 3rd Grade Approach

The Superintendents' Early Childhood Plan (SECP) is in its third year of implementation for 12 schools in six school districts of the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties. The SECP seeks to close income- and race-based achievement gaps by providing continuous early education and parenting supports across the birth through grade 3 continuum. A central focus of the plan is a school-as-hub approach. Evaluation findings from the first two years are presented.

KATHLEEN GALLAGHER Director of Research and Evaluation Buffett Early Childhood Institute University of Nebraska MALENA ROUSSEAU Research and Evaluation Coordinator Buffett Early Childhood Institute University of Nebraska Greg WElch Associate Director of Research & Evaluation Buffett Early Childhood Institute University of Nebraska Christine Maxwell Director of Program Development Buffett Early Childhood Institute University of Nebraska

Barbara Jackson Professor/Director of Education and Interdisciplinary Center of Program Evaluation Department of Education and Interdisciplinary Center of Program Evaluation University of Nebraska Medical Center LISA KNOCHE Research Associate Professor & Director Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research University of Nebraska — Lincoln

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Preschool Profile in Urban/Rural Nebraska: Preliminary Findings From Network Research

Studies consistently show that children’s early academic and social-emotional skills are influenced by many settings (e.g., school and home) and contexts (e.g., rural, urban). This study provides a preliminary summary of data currently being collected across Nebraska as part of the Early Learning Network. Research questions include whether there are differences in Nebraska children’s kindergarten entry skills associated with preschool attendance and whether family-school partnerships differ in rural versus urban settings.

SUSAN SHERIDAN Professor and Director Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska — Lincoln LISA KNOCHE Research Associate Professor & Director Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools Nebraska Academy for Early Childhood Research University of Nebraska — Lincoln IHEOMA IRUKA Chief Research Innovation Officer HighScope Educational Research Foundation

NATALIE KOZIOL Research Assistant Professor Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska — Lincoln AMANDA WITTE Research Assistant Professor Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska — Lincoln BONNIE MACKINTOSH Postdoctoral Research Associate Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools University of Nebraska — Lincoln

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