Juniper Gardens Children's Project
Strengthening Children's Lives Through Science and Community Engagement

Welcome

Juniper Gardens Children's Project (JGCP) began in the mid-1960s when residents of Northeast Kansas City, Kansas, joined with KU faculty to address concerns about child development in a low-income community. Their goal, which has become the ongoing mission of the JGCP, is to improve area children's developmental and educational experiences, and thus their academic and social achievements.
 
Since its inception, the project has sought to develop meaningful solutions to what local citizens view as major problems. JGCP also provides a place for KU faculty and students to learn from the wisdom and experiences of the urban community. Together, the community and the university have designed programs to intervene in and improve the parenting, care, and instruction received by children in the Greater Kansas City area and the United States. 
 

Featured Project 

ASD On The Go is a multi-component intervention for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The intervention focuses on improving social communication, organization/planning, and problem-solving skills, and can be individualized to the user. Features of ASD On The Go include: a) learning through modules (available for free online), b) coaching support, and c) self-monitoring.

The ASD On The Go intervention is most appropriate for individuals with ASD who are working to become more engaged in work, school, and community settings, and can be accessed by a special education teacher, school counselor, behavioral therapist, parent or guardian, or the individual with ASD.

 

 

Recent Publications

Bigelow, K., Carta, J., Irvin, D., & Hemmeter, M. L. (2018). The Pyramid Infant-Toddler Observation System. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

Boyd, B. A., Watson, L. R., Reszka, S. S., Sideris, J., Alessandri, M., Baranek, G. T., . . . Belardi, K. (2018). Efficacy of the ASAP Intervention for Preschoolers with ASD: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-018-3584-z

Caldarella, P., Larsen, R. A. A., Williams, L., Wills, H., Kamps, D., & Wehby, J. H. (2018). Effects of CW-FIT on Teachers’ Ratings of Elementary School Students at Risk for Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 20(2), 78-89. doi: 10.1177/1098300717723353

Greenwood, C. R., Beecher, C., Atwater, J., Petersen, S., Schiefelbusch, J., & Irvin, D. (2018). An Ecobehavioral Analysis of Child Academic Engagement: Implications for Preschool Children Not Responding to Instructional Intervention. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 37(4), 219-233. doi: 10.1177/0271121417741968

Greenwood, C. R., Schnitz, A. G., Irvin, D., Tsai, S. F., & Carta, J. J. (2018). Automated Language Environment Analysis: A Research Synthesis. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 27(2), 853-867. doi: 10.1044/2017_AJSLP-17-0033

Irvin, D. W., Crutchfield, S. A., Greenwood, C. R., Kearns, W. D., & Buzhardt, J. (2018). An automated approach to measuring child movement and location in the early childhood classroom. Behavior Research Methods, 50(3), 890-901. doi: 10.3758/s13428-017-0912-8

Irvin, D. W., Ingram, P., Huffman, J., Mason, R., & Wills, H. (2018). Exploring paraprofessional and classroom factors affecting teacher supervision. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 73, 106-114. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2017.12.013

Thiemann-Bourque, K., Feldmiller, S., Hoffman, L., & Johner, S. (2018). Incorporating a Peer-Mediated Approach Into Speech-Generating Device Intervention: Effects on Communication of Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 1-17. doi: 10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-17-0424

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Donation

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What's New
Job Opportunities
  • Lead Application Developer/Research Engineer: We are seeking a full-stack Application Developer to lead development of single-page web applications, as well as maintain, troubleshoot and improve applications already in production. Existing applications at JGCP include learning management systems, web apps that help manage and report child outcomes to guide teacher’s instructional decisions, and mobile apps to support parent-teacher communication and student self-management. As a member of JGCP’s Technology Innovation, Development & Research (TIDR) lab, the developer will gain experience across multiple research projects. Review of applications will begin Sept 18, 2018 and continue until position is filled. For more information and how to apply, click here. KU is an EO/AAE. 
  • Postdoctoral Researchers (Early Intervention): Juniper Gardens Children’s Project (JGCP) is recruiting 2 postdoctoral researchers interested in developing expertise in designing, implementing and disseminating research carried out while developing evidence-based practices with community partners focused on early intervention, early care, and early education settings. The postdoctoral position is a full-time (100% FTE), 2 years, research-dedicated fellowship. Postdoctoral researchers will learn and develop new advances in the prevention and intervention of learning and behavior problems in young children. For more information and to apply online, click here. KU is an EO/AAE. 
  • Student Hourly (Data Collectors): Juniper Gardens Children’s Project, a community-based research institute affiliated with the University of Kansas, is conducting a research program aimed at evaluating how a Practice Based Coaching model (Literacy 3D) can be used to enhance the literacy focus of early childhood (EC) teachers through data-driven decision making and strategies that boost children’s opportunities to respond in literacy activities. We are seeking 4-10 student hourly employees who will be responsible for data collection activities with preschool students and teachers, including administering literacy assessments to children, observing classroom instruction and interactions, and assisting in the preparation and delivery of data reports in the Kansas City Metro, as well as data management and entry at our offices in downtown Kansas City, KS. For more information and to apply online, click here. KU is an EO/AAE. 
  • Graduate Research Assistant: The Juniper Gardens Children’s Project (JGCP: www.jgcp.ku.edu) is seeking a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) at 50% – 75% FTE. The GRA would join a research team that is developing and testing technology to promote data-driven intervention decision making practices by practitioners serving infants and toddlers with or at-risk for disabilities. These decision-making practices are informed by practitioners use of Individual Growth and Development Indicators (IGDIs) for Infants and Toddlers (www.igdi.ku.edu).For information and to apply, click here. KU is an EO/AAE. 
  • Assistant/Associate Research Professor - Statistician: The KU Life Span Institute at Juniper Gardens is seeking to hire an Assistant or Associate Research Professor with statistical skills to work in a team environment on a range of educational and applied research projects. For more information and to apply, click here.  KU is an EO/AAE
 
Latest News
RT @AZFTF : New research says how much you talk with babies is linked to their IQ in adolescence https://t.co/2Q44oOGGZz via @LENAEarlyTalk …


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