Head Start REACH: Strengthening Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Approaches With Families

Overview

Mathematica, funded by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will collect descriptive information for the Head Start REACH: Strengthening Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Approaches with Families (Head Start REACH) study. The investigators will conduct qualitative case studies in six sites. The goal of these case studies in the Head Start REACH study is to provide an in-depth understanding of (1) the approaches that are likely to be successful for the recruitment, selection, enrollment, and retention (RSER) of families who are experiencing adversities; (2) the factors that affect the implementation of these approaches and; (3) the experiences of such families, both enrolled and non-enrolled in Head Start. Data collection will occur in spring 2022. The investigators will conduct qualitative, semi-structured interviews with staff across the six sites who are involved in RSER efforts and provide services to families experiencing adversities, including those in Head Start programs and in the community organizations with which the programs partner. The investigators will also conduct focus groups with families who are being served by Head Start programs and/or the community partner organizations.

This study aims to advance understanding of the approaches that programs use for the recruitment, selection, enrollment, and retention (RSER) of families who are experiencing adversities; the implementation of those approaches; and the experience of Head Start-eligible families (both enrolled and not enrolled in Head Start). Adversities is a broad term that refers to a wide range of circumstances or events that pose a threat to a child or caregiver's physical or psychological well-being. The adversities that families experience are often intertwined with poverty, may co-occur, and are affected by systematic factors, such as structural racism. Common examples include (but are not limited to) families experiencing homelessness; involvement in child welfare, including foster care; and affected by substance use, mental health issues, and domestic violence. Data from these case studies will inform the development of the study's conceptual framework, identify knowledge gaps, and inform the design of a future large-scale descriptive study. Ultimately, this information collection will support ACF in better understanding how Head Start programs recruit, select, enroll, and retain families and inform Head Start's efforts to achieve its mission of advancing equitable outcomes for children and families. In addition, these case studies may identify promising approaches for engaging underserved populations and help Head Start utilize more effective case management and coordination strategies. The information collected is meant to contribute to the body of knowledge on ACF programs. It is not intended to be used as the principal basis for a decision by a federal decision-maker and is not expected to meet the threshold of influential or highly influential scientific information. The investigators propose the following data collection activities, to be carried out in spring 2022: 1. A semi-structured program director interview: To obtain information about the Head Start program's eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance (ERSEA) policies; RSER approaches and how they are tailored for families facing adversities; staff training and support related to RSER and adversities; RSER approaches used with underserved families; and partnerships that support the program's RSER efforts. 2. A semi-structured Head Start ERSEA staff interview: To obtain information about the Head Start program's ERSEA policies; RSER approaches and how they are tailored for families facing adversities; staff training and support related to RSER and adversities; RSER approaches used with underserved families; and partnerships that support the program's RSER efforts. 3. A semi-structured community partner staff interview: To collect information about the community organization's experience working with the Head Start program and their referral processes; the organization's understanding of Head Start eligibility criteria; the organization's procedures for disseminating information about early education and child care options to families; and the organization's view of the Head Start program's role in meeting families' needs. 4. A focus group with families enrolled in Head Start: To collect information on the families' experience with the Head Start program; the recruitment and post-enrollment experience in the Head Start program; and the likelihood of the family's continuing its involvement in the Head Start program. 5. A focus group with Head Start-eligible families not enrolled in Head Start: To obtain information on the families' experience with the community partner organization; knowledge of Head Start program and alternate early education and child care options; barriers to enrollment in the Head Start program; and the reasons families choose alternative child care.