Sesame Street Family Resource Kit Pilot

The Sesame Street Family Resource Kit Pilot is a new program that includes web-based and hands-on (storybook) resources for parents/caregivers of children ages 3–8 affected by parental addiction. The Sesame Street resources and activities will be set up for parents/caregivers to use at home for 6 weeks (about 30–60 minutes each week). The Sesame Street resources focus on the following:

1. Building a sense of safety and trust with children;
2. Helping children talk about their feelings; and
3. Giving children concrete tools to handle difficult emotions.

What does the pilot involve?

• We are looking for 320 parents/caregivers who care for a child ages 3 to 8 affected by parental addiction.
• Parents/caregivers must care for the child at least 2 full days per week.
• We will ask these parents/caregivers to fill out two surveys: one in September and the other in November.
• Half of the parents/caregivers will get free Sesame Street materials in September. Half of the parents will get the free Sesame Street materials in December.
• We also will invite some families to talk with us in greater depth in November.

What will parents/caregivers receive?

All participants will receive free Sesame Street digital resources and print storybooks.

We also want to thank parents/caregivers for their time and help by giving each participating parent/caregiver a $25 gift card for each survey they complete. Parents/caregivers who refer another eligible caregiver can receive an additional $10 gift card for each eligible person who enrolls and completes the pilot. We also will ask some participants to join a virtual focus group in late fall 2020. Focus group participants will receive a $50 gift card.

Who can participate?

To be eligible, a parent/caregiver must:

• care for a child between ages 3 to 8 years old who has a parent experiencing addiction or who is in recovery from a substance use disorder (for example, abuse of alcohol or opioids);
• care for the child at least 2 full days per week;
• have Internet access;
• have and use a current email address;
• live in the United States; and
• be willing to participate in the virtual pilot activities from September through November 2020.

What questions will you ask parents/caregivers?

The surveys will ask parents/caregivers about knowledge and attitudes about helping children affected by parental addiction. We also will ask some questions about how they used the free resources from Sesame.

What will you do with the information?

The information will help Sesame Street learn how to best support families like yours. Your name/contact information and any information that you share with us will be confidential.

What is the timeline?

• July–August 2020: Parents/caregivers will join the pilot study.
• September 2020: All parents/caregivers will complete the first online survey.
• September–November 2020 (six-week window): Half of the participants will receive and use the free Sesame resources.
• November 2020: All parents/caregivers will fill out the second online survey.
• November 2020: Some parents/caregivers will be asked to participate in a virtual discussion group.
• December 2020: The rest of the parents/caregivers will receive and use the free Sesame resources.

About AIR and the Pilot Team

AIR is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization known around the world as a leader in behavioral and social science research. Its goal is to use the best research evidence available to improve everyday life. AIR’s Early Childhood Development and Education practice area focuses on improving learning and development opportunities for children from birth to age 8, focusing mostly on families facing historical disadvantages.

For additional information about this study, please contact us at SesameResourcePilot@air.org.