Head Start Bulletin #65: Family Involvement [PDF, 992KB]
Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has given children and families the message that they are valued, worthy, and capable. Head Start always operates within the context of the child’s family and his or her community. This issue of the Bulletin focuses on some of the many ways parents participate in Head Start—from the shared decision-making opportunities in Parent Committees and the Policy Council/Committee, to receiving training, and to providing support to children in the learning process.
Head Start Bulletin #67: Curriculum in Head Start [PDF, 1.42MB]
Curriculum plays a vital role in achieving Head Start’s goal of enhancing the social competence and school readiness of children. The 1998 legislation reauthorizing the Head Start program places additional emphasis on this goal and establishes additional outcome standards in this central area of Head Start program quality. This issue provides a comprehensive overview of curriculum in Head Start, responds to commonly asked questions, and identifies Head Start resources that programs can use in developing a curriculum to meet the particular needs of children in their communities.
Head Start Bulletin #68: Conflict Management [PDF, 1.07MB]
Most of us think of conflict as a bad thing: shouting, put-downs, hurt feelings, tears. The fact is that most conflicts are simple disagreements that are easily resolved by talking. This issue of the Head Start Bulletin reviews conflict management skills and illustrates how they can be used effectively in those situations where conflict can be prevented or resolved in a mutually satisfying way.
Head Start Bulletin #69: Early Head Start [PDF, 1.24MB]
With the reauthorization of the Head Start program in 1994, Congress established a new program for low-income families with pregnant women, infants, and toddlers: Early Head Start. In creating this program, Congress was responding to strong evidence suggesting that early intervention through high quality programs enhances children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development; enables parents to be better caregivers and teachers to their children; and helps parents meet their own goals, including economic independence. This issue of the Head Start Bulletin focuses on the current best practices essential to quality programs: child development, family development, community building, and staff development, all embedded in the Head Start [Program] Performance Standards.
Head Start Bulletin #70: Screening and Assessment in Head Start [PDF, 1.35MB]
How are our children doing? This question stays on the mind of every Head Start and Early Head Start staff member, manager, parent, and community partner. It is the key question we seek to answer in our national research and evaluation studies. And it led the Congress in 1998 to enact new legislative mandates that Head Start programs are beginning to implement to assess children's progress towards specific learning outcomes, and to analyze and use information on child outcomes in their local program self-assessment process. This issue offers a wide variety of ideas and strategies on initial screening and ongoing assessment; connections between assessment, curriculum and individualization; and ways to implement new policies on assessing and analyzing information on child outcomes.
Head Start Bulletin #71: Head Start and Partners Forum on Oral Health [PDF, 1.58MB]
During much of the 1990s, the number one health issue affecting Head Start programs nationwide was access to oral health services. The Head Start and Partners Forum on Oral Health was held in Washington, D.C. to convene a group of representatives from Head Start and other federal agencies, researchers, scientists, practitioners, parents, and advocates to discuss the latest research and evidence-based oral health practices, and to develop strategies to implement these practices. In this issue of the Bulletin, you will find general information that was presented at the Forum, summaries of each of the papers presented, participants’ reactions to the experience, and descriptions of follow-up activities that have taken place throughout the country since the Forum, and oral health resources.
Head Start Bulletin #73: Child Mental Health [PDF, 7.11MB]
Children’s school experience is more positive and productive when children have a sense of personal well-being and when they are grounded in stable, caring relationships in their early lives. The notion of promoting social-emotional development and mental health is not new to Head Start. As a national laboratory, Head Start has always been a leader in the field of early childhood, recognizing the needs of low-income young children and acknowledging the impediments that need to be addressed to help them learn and grow. Developed for Head Start staff, administrators and program supervisors, this issue of the Head Start Bulletin looks at some of the most current interventions and concerns impacting child mental health. Features, resources and articles focus on the quality of relationships in centers, the ways curriculum supports emotional connections, and the honest acknowledgement of strengths and challenges in promoting mental health.
Head Start Bulletin #74: Why Research [PDF, 1.57MB]
Research on Head Start participants has added substantially to the understanding of the development of children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their families. All members of the Head Start community will benefit from this review of the panorama of research activities. By reading about numerous studies and their results, by finding models for activities and by learning of resources available for such endeavors, individuals and groups may become encouraged to become active researchers and thereby contribute further evidence for continuous Head Start program improvement.
Head Start Bulletin #75: Adult Health [PDF, 6.48MB]
We all know how closely children’s health and their ability to learn are linked. However, we may not always invest the same amount of energy in promoting and protecting the health of adults. Common sense tells us that in order to care for, nurture, and teach our children, we must first take care of ourselves. The Head Start Program Performance Standards recognize the importance of keeping staff well. They require grantee and delegate agencies to make mental health and wellness information available to staff. Full implementation of the Program Performance Standards includes having management systems that support staff health. This Bulletin includes articles on a wide range of health issues affecting adults. Many articles highlight one or more health priorities from the Healthier U.S. initiative.
Head Start Bulletin #76: Head Start Child Outcomes [PDF, 18.1MB]
Head Start Program Performance Standards provide a sound foundation for achieving positive child outcomes. Focusing on child outcomes has created a powerful mechanism for Head Start programs planning. Articles and resources in this Head Start Bulletin set the context for the information sought through the National Reporting System (NRS). An update of the Head Start Path to Positive Child Outcomes as well as an explanation of how Head Start systems interrelate to support program quality are also included.
Head Start Bulletin #77: Father Involvement [PDF, 1.02MB]
Fathers make critical contributions to the educational achievement and physical and emotional health of their children. In Head Start’s vision of parent involvement, fathers and mothers partner with the program to reach family goals. This Head Start Bulletin on Father Involvement is an important resource for father involvement efforts. Sections of this issue address diverse aspects of starting and/or enhancing a Father Involvement program including showcasing and building on best practices, and facilitating more effective involvement of fathers in the lives of their children
Head Start Bulletin #78: English Language Learners [PDF, 1.73MB]
Head Start has strong programmatic requirements that specifically refer to the home language, the learning of English, or the cultural background of families and children. Program staff and parents will benefit from the best practices, training models, recent research, and web-based resources identified in this issue. Sections include Community and Families; Educational Leaders; Teachers and Home Visitors Speak; Assessment; and Resources.
Head Start Bulletin #79 - Professional Development [PDF, 2.40MB]
Head Start has been a leader in early childhood and family services professional development since its inception. Highly trained and competent staff members are a significant part of the formula for success. Innovation is a prime ingredient in the Office of Head Start's support of professional development. Technology innovations offer many ways for professionals working in the field of early childhood to build their expertise, improve their understanding of their profession and explore the outer dimensions of their learning. This issue of the Head Start Bulletin is focused on present and future strategies for professional development including distance education and the variety of methods grantees use to support the professional development of staff members.
Head Start Bulletin #80 - Mental Health [PDF, 589KB]
Promoting mental health is a vital component of the work done every day to enrich the lives of the children and families in Head Start. The risk factors affecting social and emotional well-being are present in the lives of many Head Start children, family and Head Start staff. This issue of the Head Start Bulletin focuses on fostering the mental health of children, families, and staff; preventing the onset, reducing the risk, and intervening early in mental illness; providing effective service delivery; and strengthening resilience in the Head Start community.
