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Project Kariñu Loving Our Babies 
Guam’s Early Childhood System of Care 
 
EVALUATION REPORT: January 2016 
 
WHO IS BEING HELPED? 
 
Project Kariñu helps young children, birth through 5 years of age, who 
have challenges in their social, emotional, and behavioral development 
through: 
 
•Outreach and sharing information 
•Screening and assessing children 
•Providing treatment and individualized interventions 
•Conducting family support activities 
 
Age, Gender & Ethnicity of Children 
•Children as young as 2 months through 6 years 
•Average age is 3 years 
•Most boys; 3 out of 5 are boys 
•Majority of Chamorro descent; 3 out of 4 
 
Children’s Most Common Challenges 
 
Bar Graph Legend: 
Green: Developmental Disability; 
Orange: Disruptive Behaviors; 
Blue: Maltreatment 
 
Developmental Disability: 29% 
Disruptive Behaviors: 27% 
Maltreatment: 26% 
 
TYPS OF SERVICES PROVIDED 
Name of Service 
Intake 
6 Months 
 
Assessment/Evaluation 
Intake: 98% 
6 Months: 69% 
 
Transportation 
Intake: 58% 
6 Months: 66% 
 
Case Management 
Intake: 43% 
6 Months: 68% 
 
Informal Support 
Intake: 38% 
6 Months: 44% 
 
Family Support 
Intake: 26% 
6 Months: 53% 
 
Individual Therapy 
Intake: 6% 
6 Months: 15% 
 
Family Therapy 
Intake: 4% 
6 Months: 4% 
 
Crisis Stabilization 
Intake: 1% 
6 Months: 1% 
 
Photos at right: Collage of happy kids. 
 
 
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HOW IS KARIÑU HELPING? 
51% of Children’s “Acting out” Behaviors Improved 
 
Pie Chart: 
Legend: 
Green: Improved; 
Blue: Stayed the Same; 
Gray: Got Worse 
 
Improved: 51% 
Stayed the Same: 41% 
Got Worse: 8% 
 
Caregivers Report After Family Support Activities 
 
Bar Graph: 
Legend: 
Orange: Agree; 
Blue: Disagree 
 
I Learned something that will help me as a parent 
Agree: 99% 
 
I plan to change something about my parenting 
Agree: 97% 
 
Bar Graph: 
Legend: 
Green: Strongly Agree; 
Yellow: Agree 
 
Strongly Agree: 92% 
 
Caregivers Are Positive About Services 
Caregivers’ Perspectives on Services 
 
% Reporting Positively at 12 Months 
 
Participation in Treatment 82% 
Social Connectedness 77% 
Access to Services 76% 
Functioning 74% 
Outcome 71% 
Satisfaction with Services 70% 
 
 
FAMILY VOICES 
 
Photo: A caregiver sits and plays with a toddler on the floor, kids 
playing in the background 
 
“I’m not reactive anymore; more calm, patient.” 
 
Photo: Smiling Mother hugging son 
 
“Play therapy helps parents understand children’s feelings, to better 
help the child.” 
 
Photo: Two children playing in daycare 
 
“I find it most helpful that Project Kariñu taught my son how to relate 
well with other kids.” 
 
Photo: Child hugging her mother 
 
“My child is now listening to me…. She comes out and talks about 
feelings.” 
 
This report was prepared by Bonnie Brandt, M.A. and Keith Villaluna, 
B.B.A., University of Guam Center for Excellence in Developmental 
Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (Guam CEDDERS). One hundred 
percent (100%) funding for this publication was provided by the Child 
Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) Cooperative Agreement 5U79SM059022-06 
between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Substance Abuse 
and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Mental Health 
Services and the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services. 
The University of Guam is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider. 
 
Department of Public Health and Social Service Logo 
Project Kariñu Loving Our Babies Logo 
Guam CEDDERS logo