Head Start Demonstration Projects Serving Homeless Families

ACYF Administration on Children, Youth and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children and Families
	1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-99-02	2. Issuance Date: 03/12/99
	3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau
	4. Key Word: Homeless

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM [See Attachments at the bottom]

TO: All Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Head Start Demonstration Projects Serving Homeless Families

INFORMATION: Attached is a copy of the HEAD START DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS SERVING HOMELESS FAMILIES: DESCRIPTIONS, EFFECTIVE PRACTICES, AND LESSONS LEARNED Final Report (HTML) (PDF, 175KB Version, Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). The Head Start Bureau (HSB) funded 16 Head Start Grantees to implement three-year demonstration projects for homeless children and their families in October, 1993. The objectives of this initiative were to: (1) enhance access of homeless families to Head Start services; (2) provide services responsive to the special needs of homeless children and families; (3) identify effective methods of addressing the needs of homeless families; and (4) implement and document replicable strategies for collaboration between Head Start programs and community agencies on behalf of homeless families. At the end of the three-year demonstration period, the HSB transitioned the demonstration projects and funds to the Grantee's regular Head Start budgets to assure continuation of services for homeless families. This Report provides the following information about the Demonstration projects:

The characteristics of the projects and families served;
Critical issues relevant to project implementation;
Challenges encountered and effective practices with respect to each issue; and
Key lessons learned.

Additionally, this document reports on effective approaches, and experiences, accompanied by recommendations as provided by Project Directors one year or more after the Homeless Demonstration Grants program had ended. Rich information about the challenges of providing a continuum of services to homeless children and families as an integral part of their respective local programs is included.

Copies of this Report may be requested from the Head Start Information and Publication Center by E-Mail: puborder@headstartinfo.org or FAX: 703/683-5769.

/S/
Helen Taylor
Associate Commissioner

ATTACHMENT:

Report on Head Start Demonstration Projects Serving Homeless Families: Descriptions, Effective Practices, and Lessons Learned Cc:Regional Administrators, ACF, Regions I-X
American Indian, and Migrant Programs Branches

REFERENCES:

ACF/ACYF Information Memorandum ACF-IM-92-12 dated June 5, 1992: "Homeless Children and Families."
ACF/ACYF Program Instruction ACYF-PI-93-08 dated May 5, 1993: "Demonstration Project to Serve Homeless Families."

Attachments:
Head Start Demonstration Projects
Head Start Demonstration Projects [PDF, 175KB]