In recent years, many Head Start and Early Head Start programs have experienced significant changes in the demographic make-up of low-income families living within their service areas. In some communities, new racial and ethnic groups have arrived, while in other communities low-income families have moved to different neighborhoods. Many programs have responded to these changes by conducting active outreach efforts to bring new members of the community into the Head Start fold. In addition to the new recruitment strategies, these efforts have also included hiring staff who speak the languages of new groups, modifying curriculums, relocating centers to new sites and many other innovations.

To further support these efforts, the Office of Head Start is offering a new video series called Building Blocks for Hispanic Outreach and Service which is designed to help local Head Start and Early Head Start programs fulfill the Head Start mission. The series includes a viewer’s guide designed to promote discussion and planning aimed at reaching out to Hispanic families. There are four, 15-minute videos in this series as listed below:

• The Hispanic Population in the United States
• Understanding the Hispanic Community in Your Area
• Meeting the Needs of Hispanic Families
• Meeting the Needs of Hispanic Children

The videos include scenes from Head Start and Early Head Start programs and interviews with staff, parents, and a variety of experts in the field. The videos will be of interest to many audiences: governing bodies, program administrators, staff, parents, and community partners. The Viewers Guide includes questions to consider before viewing each video, and includes questions for guiding further discussion at local programs. Full text [PDF, 47KB]