Morrow-Howell and McCrary win Generations United Award for evaluation of Experience Corps tutoring program

By Jessica Martin

July 31, 2009 — Nancy Morrow-Howell, Ph.D. the Ralph and Muriel Pumphrey Professor of Social Work and Stacey McCrary, project manager, both at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, are winners of the prestigious Generations United 2009 Brabazon Award for Evaluation Research.

Generations United is a national organization focused on improving the lives of children, youth and older people through intergenerational strategies, programs and public policies. Since 1986, it has served as a resource for educating policymakers and the public about the economic, social and personal imperatives of intergenerational collaboration.

Morrow-Howell and McCrary are being honored for their work evaluating Experience Corps (EC), an award-winning organization that trains thousands of people over 55 to tutor children in urban public schools across the country.

“Nancy Morrow-Howell and Stacey McCray are among a handful of investigators who are making a significant impact on intergenerational research,” said Tema Fishbein, director of external affairs at EC.

“By capturing the measurable benefits for both older adults and youth engaged in EC programs, they have added to the understanding that older adults can be a key ingredient to solving issues facing our youth.”

EC tutors reported improvements in mental health and physical functioning (including mobility, stamina and flexibility) and maintained overall health longer. Over a single school year, students with EC tutors made over 60 percent more progress in learning two critical reading skills — sounding out new words and reading comprehension — than similar students not served by the program.

The research, conducted through the Brown School’s Center for Social Development, was funded by a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies.

GU honored Morrow-Howell and McCrary during their awards banquet on July 27 in Washington D.C. The banquet was part of GU’s 15th International Conference.

For more information about Morrow-Howell and McCrary’s EC research visit http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/13890.html.