A Call to Action

A Call to Action

Director Khari M. Garvin: Hi, I’m Khari Garvin, the Director of the Office of Head Start. And I want to talk with you about the ongoing initiative we refer to as “Home at Head Start.” Let me start by telling you what this idea, a Home at Head Start, means to us at the Office of Head Start.

There are more than 1.2 million children under the age of 6 experiencing homelessness who can directly benefit from the comprehensive services and supports you provide every day. This is what I mean by a Home at Head Start.

Children experiencing homelessness are affected by a variety of health challenges. It’s often difficult for their families to access regular health care. They may experience trauma; have inadequate access to food and nutrition; have their education disrupted; and may be more at risk of developmental delays.

The comprehensive services you provide are part of the solution. For families with uncertain and unstable living circumstances, Head Start can and should play a role in providing the support that every young child and their family needs and deserves. This is what I mean by Home at Head Start.

Currently, we have 50,000 children enrolled in our programs who are considered McKinney-Vento eligible. But that means that there are more than 1 million children we are not reaching. Colleagues, we must push ourselves to do more.

For today, I’d like to encourage you to do three things that can make a big difference to help more children and families have a Home at Head Start. Make sure you are prioritizing children and families experiencing homelessness for your services. Consider beginning your enrollment process with conversations about the most important thing for every family, their home and living circumstances.

McKinney-Vento eligible families are categorically eligible for our services, so you don’t even need to look at income. Work with your community partners like homeless liaisons in your school district or local shelters to provide enrollment referrals and to offer supports. Rely on your parent leaders to help you find families who may be sharing housing due to financial or other hardships or emergencies. Help your staff understand the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness and how to engage in caring conversations with families without ever using the word “homeless.”

Now, I know, easier said than done, right? So let me point you to some rich resources on the ECLKC website. Check out the Office of Head Start Frequently Asked Questions about Serving Families Experiencing Homelessness, McKinney-Vento learning modules, webinars, and more.

Narrator: For more information about children and families experiencing homelessness, please visit https://bit.ly/4asDuI5. Produced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.