Early Head Start is a program that uses families and children to evaluate their programs in research settings. “A rigorous evaluation of Early Head Start in 17 programs selected from the first program cohorts shows that the program had significant and positive impacts on a wide range of parent and child dimensions, some with implications for children’s later school success.”
Early Head Start Benefits Children and Families Retrieved from
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/ehs/ehs_resrch/reports/dissemination/research_briefs/research_brief_overall.pdf
Parents who participate in HS(Head Start) are found to have greater quality of life satisfaction; increased confidence in coping skills; and decreased feelings
of anxiety, depression, and sickness. HS children are at least eight percentage points more likely to have had their immunizations than those children who did not attend preschool. Similarly, EHS(Early Head Start) children had a higher immunization rate than children in a control group.
Benefits of Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) Programs Retrieved from http://www.nhsa.org/files/static_page_files/081FD64E-1D09-3519-ADC7E878DDB5CEC9/REDFactSheets1.pdf
I have witnessed families that are enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs and have been impressed with their desire to learn and work to better their lives and their child’s life. The Head Start that I observed in Newton was a community of helpful teachers and counselors and responsive parents with healthy children.
Barbara:
ReplyDeleteQuality early education can truly make a difference for young children. I am happy to see that there has been research studying the impact on the health and well-being of the families as well. Do you think you would like to use this information as an inspiration for further research? Did you feel like they missed anything in these studies that you would include?
LouAnn
Barbara,
ReplyDeleteHead Start is often cited in articles related to quality early care and education. I am a community member on the Policy Council for my local Head Start agency. I am always impressed by the committment of the parents who are also involved. I belief Head Start has such success because of its mission to serve the whole family.
Thank you for sharing!
Teri
Headstart really is a wonderful program. It is wonderful to learn about the successes of the children and families in their HS communities. Thank you for sharing the information about immunizations. That was not information that I already knew.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post,
Caitlyn
Barbara,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. As a kindergarten teacher, I have seen the amazing benefits of head start programs and other programs like it. These children come into school with the skills and background knowledge needed to be successful in the elementary classroom. I wish all preschool aged children had access to programs like this.