Resource Library

This framework outlines the roles of various types of research and evaluation in generating information and answering empirical questions related to the human services provided by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Within the framework, you will find descriptions of each type of research and evaluation, including the purpose, the policy and/or practical significance justifications, the empirical and theoretical justifications, and the expectations for study design and expected outcomes.

Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) programs provide child development, family support, and family engagement services to young children and their migrant and seasonal farmworker families. MSHS programs are designed to meet the unique needs of migrant and seasonally working families. MSHS programs usually provide bilingual services and sometimes operate in non-standard hours or in varying locations throughout the agricultural season...

Intimate partner violence (IPV), defined as physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, and/or psychological aggression by a current or former intimate partner. IPV is prevalent and has lasting consequences for survivors and their children (CDC, 2017). It is important to understand the services that exist to help prevent IPV and address it effectively when it occurs.

IPV services reach a relatively small proportion of men, women, and families affected, and men in particular...

“Open science” represents a broad movement to make all phases of research—from design to dissemination—more transparent and accessible. The scientific community and Federal agencies that support research have a growing interest in open science methods in response to highly publicized news stories and journal articles that cast doubt on research credibility...

This compendium is an effort to understand and document the data collected by ACF that is or could be used for evidence-building purposes. It includes summaries of twelve major ACF administrative data sources and seven surveys. Each entry in the Compendium includes: an overview of the data source; data ownership and funding source; basic content (topical areas covered); major publications, websites, and documentation; available datasets (public and restricted); data quality; statutory and regulatory restrictions on access and use; capacity to link with other data sources; and examples of prior research using linked data... 

As states and territories make decisions about child care policies, they may find it useful to collect data from child care providers. Survey data can be helpful for answering questions about providers’ characteristics and experiences. Yet surveys can be difficult to design. This brief discusses best practices for developing and testing surveys.

A one-page tip sheet lists suggestions for writing strong survey questions. 

This report describes the methodology for the TRLECE project’s three surveys regarding child care and early education (CCEE) licensing (i.e., surveys of CCEE licensing administrators, front-line licensing staff, and CCEE providers).

This snapshot uses longitudinal data from 2019, 2021, and 2022 in the National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE) to examine the mental health and well-being of the center-based CCEE workforce from 2019, by race and ethnicity.

The Early Care and Education Leadership Study (ExCELS) measure administration and scoring guide provides information to support users in administering and scoring the ExCELS measure.

This video features parents describing the many factors they consider when looking for child care and early education.