By JooYeun Chang
Family is the heart of the mission for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). We believe that families are the most important partner when it comes to improving outcomes for individual children, families, and communities. Family is what Head Start programs are all about. Head Start programs continue to be the nation’s premier provider of early childhood education and comprehensive services for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, pregnant people and a consistent partner with families. The work of Head Start programs exemplify the core values of ACF — to provide support to enrolled families when they need it most.
Just as Head Start teachers individualize their approach with children, Head Start family services staff and home visitors do the same by partnering with families based on their individual strengths, interests, needs, and goals. At ACF, we honor parental expertise and build trusting, culturally affirming relationships with families. These caring relationships help ensure families receive the right services and community enrichment at the right time. This can be connections for food and nutrition support; housing; mental and physical health services; education; employment; community enrichment resources; and more.
As families trust Head Start programs, Head Start programs rely on many different community partnerships to help care for families during times of adversity. Many of these community partners are funded through ACF, which also administers the Head Start program. For example, the ACF Office of Community Services provides funds through the Community Services Block to many Community Action Agencies, who in turn provide Head Start families with energy, water, and rental assistance.
Head Start programs also often partner with local child welfare agencies funded through ACF’s Children’s Bureau. Together, they work to enroll foster children in Head Start programs and support families involved with the child welfare system. That is why children in foster care are automatically eligible for Head Start services. We also know that participation in quality early education programs, including Head Start services, has been shown to decrease the cycle of involvement in the child welfare system.
Together, Head Start and other ACF programs are working in communities across the country to bring children and families to a cycle of healing, security, economic mobility, and future success.
JooYeun Chang is the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families. This blog was first published on the ACF Family Room blog.