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

  • "Student and Teacher Outcomes from a Multi-Site Randomized Replication Trial," in the Elementary School Journal. Authored by Howard P. Wills, Debra Kamps, Paul Caldarella, & Joe Wehby. (In Press).
  • "Web-based Support for Data-based Decision Making: Effect of Intervention Implementation on Children’s Communication," in the Journal of Early Intervention (in press, link coming soon). Authored by Jay Buzhardt, Dale Walker, Charles Greenwood, Fan Jia, Alana Schnitz, Susan Higgins, Debra Montagna and Christine Muehe. 
  • "Automated Language Environment Analysis (LENA): A Research Synthesis," in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology (in press, link coming soon). Authored by Charles Greenwood, Alana Schnitz, Dwight Irvin, Shu-Fei Tsai, and Judy Carta.  
  • "An eco-behavioral analysis of child academic engagement: Implications for preschool children not responding to instructional intervention," in the journal Topics in Early Childhood Special Education (in press, link coming soon). Authored by Charles Greenwood, Connie Beecher, Jane Atwater, Sarah Petersen, Jeanie Schiefelbusch and Dwight Irvin.

​​See more publications


Donation

Make a tax-deductible donation to Juniper Gardens Children's Project

What's New
Job Opportunities
  • 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. 
  • Assistant Researchers (Literacy Coaches): 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 four part-time (50% - 75% FTE)  intervention coaches who will be responsible for coaching EC teachers in the Kansas City Metro area and in Lawrence, KS in the implementation of Literacy 3D to promote early literacy and oral language development in children ages 3-5. For more information and to apply, click here. KU is an EO/AAE. 
  • Assistant Researchers (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 looking for 2-3 Assistant Researchers at .75 – 1.0 FTE 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, 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. 
  • Graduate Research Assistant: We are seeking a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) to work 40% FTE (16 hours per week) for the next year of the Bridging the Word Gap (BWG) Research Network project (1 year). The GRA will work under the guidance of the Project Co-Principal Investigators and the Project Coordinator to plan and create materials to implement a language intervention study in multiple sectors in the community. The GRA will regularly attend project meetings and will be responsible primarily for assisting with BWG-related intervention studies.   The GRA will also be available to the Executive Team to assist in completion of project-specific tasks. For more information and to apply, click here. KU is an EO/AAE. 
  • Graduate Research Assistant: We are seeking a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) to work 50% FTE (20 hours per week) for the next year of the Bridging the Word Gap (BWG) Research Network project (1 year). The GRA will work on the project under the guidance of the Project Co-Principal Investigators and the Project Coordinator. The GRA will attend regular  BWG project meetings and will be responsible for assisting the Leadership Team and Work Groups in developing associated deliverables from research syntheses, and assisting with translation and dissemination of synthesis findings for diverse audiences including researchers, teachers, parents, and policymakers. For more 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
 
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