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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Q. How can Head Start help parents and families?
A. Many parents who enroll their children in Head Start also receive educational services themselves. We have assisted many of our parents in obtaining their GEDs and enrolling in college classes. Some parents enroll in English as a Second Language classes and receive guidance on the path to citizenship. Parents also receive education about child rearing, as well as job training. Each family is different, so depending on individual needs, parents and other family members may also be referred to medical, social welfare or employment specialists for services.
Q. What is Family Engagement?
A. Family engagement is a collaborative and strengths-based process through which early childhood professionals, families, and children build positive and goal-oriented relationships. It is a shared responsibility of families and staff at all levels that requires mutual respect for the roles and strengths each has to offer. Family engagement focuses on culturally and linguistically responsive relationship-building with key family members in a child’s life. These people include pregnant women and expectant families, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other adult caregivers.
Q. What is the Parent Committee?
A. The Parent Committee is required by the Federal government for all Head Start/Early Head Start Programs. All parents are automatically members of the Parent Committee. Parents are chosen to serve on the agency Policy Council from the Parent Committee(s). Parents from Head Start and Early Head Start should participate in the Parent Committee.
Q. What is the Policy Council?
A. The Policy Council is a group of Head Start and Early Head Start parents and community members who help lead and make decisions about their program. Policy Council members are elected by the parents of children enrolled in the program. Parents often join the Policy Council after serving on a parent committee. The Policy Council meets regularly as a group. Members can serve for one year at a time, and for up to five years. They work closely with the program's management team and governing body to provide overall direction for the program.
Q. Why Should I participate in Family Partnership Building?
A. The family partnership agreement process is individualized, strengths based, family driven, and staff supported. Each family determines the direction of its partnership and works with Head Start staff to achieve identified goals. Developing a family partnership is an ongoing process which begins at enrollment and continues until the family has made a successful transition from the Head Start program. Whether working together to meet the developmental needs of children or towards realizing personal and family goals, staff and parents seek to understand and be understood. They seek to form a partnership based on mutual trust and respect. Teachers, Directors, and Family and Community Partnership team work with families to provide the following services: • Community outreach. • Recruitment and enrollment of children. • Partnering with families to set goals, responsibilities, plan of action and time lines. • Partnering with parents in interactions such as parent meetings, parent training activities, center and home visit to enhance family self-reliance. • Providing information about available community resources and how to obtain and use them. • Referrals for job training, employment, money management, health & nutrition concerns or other services parents request. • Support groups such as male involvement groups and single parent groups to assist families with common challenges. • Emergency assistance and/or crisis intervention. • Family progress is documented and celebrated with the family. • Advocacy. • Coordination of case management to ensure an efficient and timely delivery of services to families and children.