Subsidized childcare and child development in Colombia: Effects of Hogares Comunitarios de Bienestar as a function of timing and length of exposure

The impact of a vocational education program for childcare providers on children's well-being

“…The effects are stronger when we compare the control group with MCs that successfully completed the ECDC at least one year prior to assessments, as well as also being more consistent for children younger than 3 years of age. This evidence is consistent with previous findings that indicate that early childhood program effects will be greater for children who enter the program earlier and stay longer, and for the most vulnerable (Bernal and Fernández, 2013;Behrman, Cheng, & Todd, 2004;McKay, Sinisterra, McKay, Gomez, & Lloreda, 1978;Nores & Barnett, 2010;Perez-Escamilla & Pollitt, 1995).…”

“…In general, evidence does not support any association between a teacher's educational qualifications and program quality or child learning. Previous studies report no general effects for any level of education beyond a high school diploma (Bernal & Fernández, 2013;Early et al, 2006;Nores & Barnett, 2013;Early et al, 2007). 1 We provide evidence of a vocational education program for childcare providers that can have a significant effect on child development.…”

Evidence of Impact of Interventions on Growth and Development during Early and Middle Childhood

“…Colombia has been running a similar publicly funded day-care program, Hogares Comunitarios de Bienestar (in fact, Proyecto Integral de Desarrollo Infantil was modeled after this program). Bernal and Fernández (2013) reported that children ages three years and older who spent at least 15 months in the program showed improvements in both cognitive development and socioemotional skills, although no gains in nutritional status were observed. The benefit-cost ratio was estimated to be between 1.0 and 2.7, using discount rates of 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively.…”

Preschool attendance: a multilevel analysis of individual and community factors in 21 low and middle-income countries

“…Therefore, by changing local conditions through community policies in these countries (e.g., improving school facilities and raising quality and safety in a community) a great deal can be achieved. Examples of this are the encouraging effects of community-based programs such as Hogares Comunitarios de Bienestar in Colombia (Attanasio et al, 2010;Bernal and Fernández, 2013) and the centre-based community driven preschool model in rural areas of the Gaza Province of Mozambique implemented in 2008 by Save the Children (Martinez et al, 2012).…”