Does Mobilization Increase Family Engagement with an Early Childhood Intervention Program? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Research indicates that both doorstep canvassing and postal appeals can be effective in encouraging people to vote although less is known about whether mobilization increases engagement with public services. We compare the effect of two different methods of mobilization – doorstep canvassing and leaflets – on family attendance at early childhood ‘Sure Start’ centres with a sample of 3,444 families. Families who were not already using Sure Start services were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a visit from a Sure Start outreach worker providing information and encouragement; a leaflet about Sure Start; a control group that received the usual service. We found no evidence of a significant difference in Sure Start attendance between the three groups: neither visits nor leaflets were effective in encouraging non-attenders to go to Sure Start