2021-2024
Project Overview
Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of young children ages 3 to 5 from low-income and other eligible families. Head Start programs are organized into 12 regions: Regions I through X are the 10 geographically based Head Start regions across the nation and Regions XI and XII are based on the populations they serve. Region XII serves migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. Region XI serves children and families in Head Start programs operated by federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) tribes, including AIAN and non-AIAN children and families. Region XI programs incorporate their unique history, community traditions, and beliefs into their operations and integrate Native language and culture into the delivery of services to children and families.
In 2021, a study was launched to provide descriptive information about the characteristics, experiences, development, strengths, and needs of Region XI Head Start children, families, programs, and staff: the 2021—2022 Study of Family and Staff Experiences in American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey Programs (the 2021—2022 Study). The 2021-2022 study gathered data during Fall 2021 from three sources: a survey of children’s parents, a survey of children’s teachers, and a teacher child report (TCR) survey. It gathered data during Spring 2022 from these same three sources plus two additional sources: a survey of program directors and a survey of center directors, in which staff answered questions about their program or center and about themselves.
The 2021-2022 study design, engagement with Region XI programs, and dissemination efforts reflect advice from members of a Workgroup (PDF) who are committed to addressing cultural issues in how the study was carried out and how findings are shared with the Head Start community and broader field. The Workgroup consists of Region XI Head Start directors, child development researchers with expertise in tribal communities, and staff from the Office of Head Start (OHS) and the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE). The project team collaborated with the Workgroup on all aspects of the 2021-2022 study to ensure that it addresses research priorities in Region XI programs and that the research protocols align with cultural and contextual values of AIAN communities.
The 2021—2022 study builds on two earlier studies, the American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (AIAN FACES) 2015 and AIAN FACES 2019. AIAN FACES 2015 was the first national study of the children and families in Region XI Head Start, and AIAN FACES 2019 was the second round of the study. The motivation and goals of the 2021-2022 study came from a need to learn about how Region XI children, families, and Head Start staff were faring in the year following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It collected information on children, families, and staff from 18 of the programs that participated in AIAN FACES 2019. However, participation and response rates were lower than expected, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic which continued to be a national health emergency and had a disproportionate impact on AIAN communities. As a result, the data from this study are not nationally representative. Instead, data provide a window into the experiences of a sample of Region XI Head Start programs, staff, children, and families who were able to participate in data collection during this difficult time.
The 2021-2022 study is conducted through a contract to Mathematica.
Data are archived at the Child and Family Data Archive Visit disclaimer page .
Point(s) of contact: Laura Hoard, Alysia Blandon, Nina Philipsen, Jackie Gross, Brian Tchen, and Casey Gunn.
This study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under the title The 2021-2022 Study of Family and Staff Well-Being in Head Start AIAN FACES Programs Visit disclaimer page .
Information collections related to this project have been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under OMB #0970-0151. Related materials are available on at the FACES Information collection page on RegInfo.gov Visit disclaimer page.