Nearly four million U.S. undergraduate college students are parents or guardians of children under the age of 18. These student parents, who already faced immense financial, child care, food, and housing insecurity before the COVID-19 pandemic, are now dealing with multiple new barriers, including school closures, lay-offs, and child care…

For children, the earliest years are critical for healthy brain development and lay the groundwork for future educational achievement, economic productivity, and lifelong health. Equitable access to affordable, high-quality, and culturally responsive child care and early learning opportunities can be life changing, shaping the trajectories of the…

The strengths and abilities children develop from infancy through adolescence are crucial for their physical, emotional, and cognitive growth, which in turn help them to achieve success in school and to become responsible, economically self-sufficient, and healthy adults. Capable, responsible, and healthy adults are clearly the foundation of a…

Federal funding for early childhood education and care promotes three overarching policy goals: (1) increasing children's access to services; (2) raising the quality of early childhood programs; and (3) fostering greater coordination among the many providers--public schools, center-based child care, home-based child care, Head Start, and more--of…

The first 5 years of life are a critical foundation for children's early learning and lifelong development. This eBulletin highlights school readiness, how early experiences matter, the role of preschool in supporting readiness, and state and local efforts to implement recommendations from the National Governors Association (NGA). The following…

Provides overview, background, vision, and goals of a report from the Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala pledged to use the guidelines presented to help establish "Early Head Start," a new support and services program for families with…

Describes Head Start on the Hill Day, an event organized by the National Head Start Association. The association set up a fully operational Head Start classroom on Capitol Hill to offer senators, representatives, and their staff a hands-on look at America's most celebrated antipoverty program at work and to strengthen their support of the program.…

This hearing, chaired by Representative Patricia Schroeder, was held to examine historical trends in family structure and family values in light of the recent political debate over family values and their effect on poverty. Testimony and prepared statements were given by Representative Schroeder; Representative Gerry Sikorski; Senator Daniel…

Recommends that the Department of Health and Human Services ensure that every Head Start program can strive for excellence; expand the number of children served and the scope of services provided; and encourage community and school partnerships to ensure continuity of services, facilitate state and local collaboration, and link Head Start with…

This report provides a detailed examination of the various federal programs for children and families and outlines ways in which the United States Congress and Executive Branch could make these programs work better. Intricate and often overlapping goals and actions are typical of the Congressional committees and Executive Branch departments that…

This report outlines the views of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' 40-member Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers in regard to the Early Head Start Program. This program, introduced in 1995, is designed to provide services to children from birth to age 3 (and their families) who were not previously…

The Comprehensive Child Development Program (CCDP), enacted by Congress in 1988, provides intensive, comprehensive, integrated, and continuous support to preschool children from low-income families to enhance their intellectual, social, and physical development. It also provides needed services to parents and household family members to enhance…

This report provides background information and summarizes a 1991 seminar on the federal role in coordination, collaboration, and integration strategies for families. A preliminary section identifies highlights of the seminar focusing on: (1) the Project on Improving the Coordination of Federal Public Assistance Programs; (2) key findings and…

This document is the official record of hearings held September 8 and 12, 1977, dealing with the reorganization of the Office of Human Development. The hearings were held before the Subcommittee on Select Education of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor. Included in these proceedings are statements, prepared…

Notes the accomplishments and deficiencies of Head Start programs as society, and the landscape of social services, have changed since the program's inception. Presents recommendations for programs in the future, including that Head Start expands the number of children served and the scope of services provided and that it forges partnerships with…