Research Initiatives

Research in the Grow With Me Program

The Center for Children and Families (CCF) is driving crucial change for young Texans through research in our Grow With Me Program. Using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3), CCF’s Grow With Me program (in partner with many area organizations) has conducted over 3000 developmental screeners with primary Spanish-speaking families in lower income households and identified developmental delays in 20% of children screened. For these children, CCF provides home-based developmental activities and referrals for early intervention. Starting in 2025, we are expanding our services into the Asian, Mandarin-speaking community.

Research shows that early identification and treatment of delays and disorders significantly improves academic performance and reduces future needs for special education, ESL, and disciplinary interventions; however, there are still outstanding questions related to the barriers families face to getting care and the impact that early screenings and support have on children’s educational outcomes once they enter school. CCF is at the forefront of addressing these questions.

Identifying Benefits of Early Developmental Screenings on School Outcomes

In partnership with the Texas Schools Project at UTD, we are analyzing our data from the past decade of screenings to identify how early identification, family support and intervention impacts long-term educational outcomes—such as school readiness, academic achievement, and the need for specialized services in Texas public schools. These insights can shape policy to expand screenings across Texas, ensuring that all children have the support they need before kindergarten. CCF’s work offers a blueprint for effective, cost-efficient early intervention, helping inform statewide policies that create lasting benefits for Texas children.

Lead investigators: Jackie Nelson, Mandy Maguire, Jingyi Xu, Maria Maese

Area Partner Organizations: Catholic Charities, Help Me Grow North Texas, Casa de Lago

Addressing Barriers to Early Speech and Language Support for Hispanic and Asian Children

Although early intervention can be transformative, only a small percentage of eligible children under age three receive these essential services. Hispanic and Asian American families, who face unique challenges in accessing these supports, are often disproportionally underserved leaving many children without the help they need to thrive. Over the next five years, CCF students, staff and researchers will work with over 4,000 Spanish- and Mandarin-speaking families to identify these barriers. Through screenings, follow-up surveys, and in-depth interviews, we are gathering insights into the factors that influence whether families pursue evaluations and interventions. In addition, the project provides valuable training to undergraduate students, equipping future healthcare professionals with skills to better serve diverse communities.

By understanding these obstacles and preparing a more representative healthcare workforce, we aim to help create solutions that make early intervention more accessible and effective. This project promises to inform policy and create lasting, positive impacts for children and families across the state.

Lead Investigators: Pumpki Lei Su, Mandy Maguire, Jingyi Xu, Maria Maese

Area Partner Organizations: Catholic Charities, Help Me Grow North Texas

Research in the Play With Me Program

The Center for Children and Families Play With Me program, initiated in 2011, supports at-risk children ages 0-3 and their parents through a free 12-week long, dual language (Spanish/English and Mandarin/English), dual generation intervention. The program was developed to provide research-based supports for children and their parents in the children’s earliest years in order to increase child success.

Our previous research showed that the program provides essential tools for parents, enhancing parenting confidence, reducing stress, and fostering positive parent-child relationships.

Supporting Young Children’s Development through Playful Learning

Now, with many families facing increased post-COVID challenges, we are conducting new, more in-depth evaluations to measure the impact of Play With Me on child development outcomes, including parenting quality and mother-child interactions. The study also seeks to understand the factors that support healthy child development, to guide the continued improvement of programs that promote children’s success from their earliest years.

Lead Investigators: Mayra Padilla Cardoso, Margaret Owen, Adriana Villa Baird

Play With Me: Building Early Literacy and Book Sharing Practices for At-Risk Children

The Play With Me program encourages positive parent-child interactions through playful learning activities, empowering parents with practical tools to promote their child’s language and literacy skills. In conjunction with Dallas Public Libraries and For Oak Cliff, CCF is conducting research to clarify if and how participation in the Play With Me program impacts early language and literacy skills and parent-child interactions among at-risk children ages 0-3. By supporting families in creating a foundation of language skills and fostering a love for reading, Play With Me aims to prepare children for a successful transition into kindergarten and beyond.

Lead Investigators: Mayra Padilla Cardoso, Margaret Owen, Natalia Camacho, Mandy Maguire, Adriana Villa Baird

Area Partner Organizations: Dallas Public Libraries, For Oak Cliff