Basics Insights (SMS Only)
Category
Family Support
Child's Age
0-1 years, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, 3-4 years, 4-5 years
Participant
Parents/Guardian
Languages
English, Spanish, Other
Brief Description
Parent education curriculum delivered via two weekly text messages that share developmentally appropriate information with families who have a child aged birth to five on physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. All Basics Insights messages are related to the five Basics Principles: Maximize Love, Manage Stress; Count, Group, and Compare; Talk, Sing, and Point; Explore through Movement and Play; and Read and Discuss Stories.
Expected Impact
- Recipients were significantly more likely to report talking about feelings, numbers/counting objects, and playing on the floor with their child as a result of Basics Insights.
- 97% of recipients reported that the messages helped them think about how to help their child learn (84% “Totally Agree” and 13% “Mostly Agree”) question for use
Core Components for Model Fidelity
- Basic Insights Core Text Nudges: Registered parents/caregivers receive 2 messages per week from the date of enrollment to their child’s 5th birthday. One message includes a developmentally appropriate fact, based on child’s birthdate, while the second weekly message recommends an activity related to the week’s fact.
- The Basics Principles: All messages are aligned with the Basics Principles, which are based on the developmental domains of physical development, cognitive development, and social-emotional development. The Basics Principles include: Maximize Love, Manage Stress; Count, Group, and Compare; Talk, Sing, and Point; Explore through Movement and Play; and Read and Discuss Stories.
Languages Materials are Available in
English, Spanish, Other*
*Contact purveyor about additional available languages.
Delivery Mode
Virtual (SMS) or WhatsApp
Dosage
Text nudges are delivered 2 times a week beginning at enrollment and ending at the child’s 5th birthday.
Infrastructure for Implementation
Materials: Parents need access to a mobile device to receive SMS messages. For partners, internet access is necessary to schedule messages and view their portal.
Other: Basics Insights can be implemented with The Basics Principles/The Basics as part of an outreach solution.
Staffing Requirements
- Identify at least one person to serve as the point person for Basics Insights.
- Participate in an onboarding training focused on how to use the dashboard and best practices to engage families.
- Engage families and community partners to promote enrollment and use of the dashboard.
NCPC strongly recommends staff receive training in the Standards of Quality for Family Support and Strengthening. Contact Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina (PCANC) or National Family Support Network (NFSN) for more information, training, and certification.
Contact Information
https://thebasics.org/basics-insights/
Zoe Hansen-DiBello: Sr. Liaison to the Basics Learning Network; zoe.hansen-dibello@thebasics.org, 401-743-5731
Cost Estimates
The sponsoring organization is charged a flat fee of $10 per registered child. This covers up to 5 years of messages sent twice a week and grants the organization access to a dashboard for tracking enrollment patterns.
Purpose Service Code (PSC)
5505 – Parent Education
Program Identifier (PID)
Basics Insights (SMS Only)
Minimal Outputs for NCPC Reporting
FY 24-25:
- Number of parents/guardians participating†
†Select Family Support Programs data collection will include basic demographic data for parent/guardian participants including Race, Ethnicity. Data on interpretation and transportation will be collected when appropriate.
Minimal Outcomes for NCPC Reporting
FY 24-25:
- Increase in positive parenting practices
Minimal Measures for NCPC Reporting
FY 24-25:
- Basics Insights baseline survey (pretest)
- Basic Insights 3.5-month survey (posttest)
NCPC Evidence Categorization
Evidence Informed- 2 publications. 1 pilot implementation of Basics Insights and 1 internal evaluation summarizing findings from the 2022 annual survey.
Research Summary
The 2 most recent publications on Basics Insights are a report of the pilot implementation1 and one internal evaluation.2 Recipients’ survey responses indicated that they utilized most, or all tips shared by Basics Insights, told others about the program, and practiced caregiving behaviors shared in tips like reading books with their child and getting down to the child’s level to play. Recipients were significantly more likely to report talking about feelings, numbers/counting objects, and playing on the floor with their child as a result of Basics Insights messages. Caregivers reported that they were more likely to engage in practices such as talking to, playing with, and reading with their child after receiving The Basics Insights messages for 3.5 months.
- ^ See Basics Insights Text Messaging: Overview and Estimated Impacts on Parenting of Children Aged Birth to 3 (2020). The purpose of this pilot implementation was to gauge changes in parenting practices after receiving Basics Insights texts for 3.5 months. The sample included 110 parents with children from birth to 3 years of age, who completed both a baseline survey and a 3.5-month follow-up survey via a link in a text message. Parents responded to questions regarding their community’s awareness of Basics Insights, interactions with others in which they discuss Basics Insights, and their perception of Basics Insights' impact on their parent-child relationship. Responses indicated that parental engagement with their child was supported by Basics Insights texts as parents utilized most or all the tips, told others about the program, and practiced caregiving behaviors with their child (such as counting, cuddling, reading books, and playing on the floor). Recipients were significantly more likely to report talking about feelings, numbers/counting objects, and playing on the floor with their child as a result of Basics Insights.
- ^ See Impacts on Providers and Parents: The Basics Data Snapshot, Spring 2022. This internal evaluation provides insight into the responses of parents and frontline providers to The Basics annual survey. Participant demographics are not specified. Results indicated that frontline providers engaged in more frequent and effective communication with families about Basics-related topics, and caregivers reported that they were more likely to engage in practices such as talking to, playing with, and reading with their child after receiving The Basics Insights messages for 3.5 months.
Researched Population
Research on Basics Insights does not provide demographic information on the sample population.
Basics Insights Text Messaging: Overview and Estimated Impacts on Parenting of Children Aged Birth to 3. (2020). Third Sector New England., Inc. https://z0sqrs-a.akamaihd.net/4946_studer3955/pdf/Basics-Insights-Backgrnd-Impact-study-12.18.20-(1).pdf
Impacts on Providers and Parents: The Basics Data Snapshot, Spring 2022. (2022). The Basics.
Local Partnerships Currently Implementing
Local Partnerships in purple have adopted Basics Insights (SMS Only). Local Partnership contact information can be found here.