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One of the leading organizations working to help older children is the Salvin Special Education Center in Los Angeles, which conducted a three-year pilot program with 50 drug-exposed kids, ages 3 to 5. Salvin's educators cite % several elements of a successful school program: small classes (eight pupils to one teacher), fixed seat assignments and a rigid routine, and protection from loud noises and other disturbing stimulation. Activities are emphasized over paper-and-pencil exercises. "We'll read a story and bring it to life with hand puppets," explains school psychologist Valerie Wallace. Generous warmth and praise help youngsters achieve an emotional equilibrium. Of all Salvin's drug-exposed children, more than half have been able to transfer to regular school classes, with special tutoring and counseling.
Whether such success can be replicated on a large scale is uncertain, but the evidence is encouraging. A study by Dr. Ira Chasnoff and his staff at Chicago-based NAPARE followed 300 cocaine-exposed babies who, along with their mothers, received intensive postnatal intervention. Of 90 children tested at age 3, 90% showed normal intelligence, 70% had no behavioral problems, and 60% did not need speech therapy.
That may be less than complete success, but considering the horrible blow these children suffered before birth, it is remarkable that so many can be helped so much. The studies suggest that early intervention can give the children a fighting chance of leading reasonably normal lives. Such a payback seems more than enough to justify a far greater investment in treatment and rehabilitation. Today's crack kids may be a troubled generation, but they do not have to be a lost generation -- unless society abandons them.