Abstract
Since the inception of the River Oak Center for Children and Head Start Therapeutic Preschool program in Sacramento County, there has been little exploratory evaluation done to determine if the program is meeting the needs of the children and their caregivers. It is necessary to determine whether the caregivers who have had their children participate in this program believe that their needs and the needs of their children were met in this program and what suggestions they have to enhance or strengthen the current program. Information was gathered from 8 caregivers whose children have participated or are currently enrolled in the River Oak Center for Children and Head Start Therapeutic Preschool. One-on-one interviews were conducted with the caregivers and
they were asked questions about their individual experience with the Therapeutic Preschool, as well as their children's experience. Strengths, limitations and suggestions for enhancing the Therapeutic Preschool were also discussed. Demographic information about the children who attended the Therapeutic Preschool, whose caregivers participated in the research study, was also gathered. The interview questions and demographic questionnaires used within this research study were developed by this researcher. Through one-on-one interviews with 8 caregivers who participated in this research study, it was determined that the children who attended the River Oak Center for Children and
Head Start Therapeutic Preschool did make gains in decreasing their negative and aggressive behaviors. Gains were made in their prosocial skills and the majority of their caregivers felt very supported by the staff who worked with their children. The caregivers felt that they were given adequate knowledge and strategies to help their children be successful at school and in the home. The caregivers felt that the most beneficial aspects of the preschool program were the effective techniques that were used with the children, their child's increased ability to use their words, a positive improvement in their child's behavior and the small class size ratio. The caregivers reported that River Oak Center for Children and Head Start could improve the program by increasing the school week to 5 days a week and making the class a full day, rather than a half day.