Head Start is more than just preschool. The program can be a lifeline for children ages birth to 5 and their families, helping them thrive through education, health, and community support. It is also a place built on the strengths of children, families, staff and communities.
Inclusion and belonging aren’t just buzzwords — they’re the foundation of everything the Head Start program does. Staff are committed to creating spaces where everyone, regardless of their background, can succeed, whether it’s recognizing each child’s unique abilities and ideas, valuing parents as experts on their own children, and as program volunteers and leaders, or linking families with needed services.
Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, programs tailor their outreach to meet the unique needs of each community. This might mean offering materials in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for all, and building upon civil rights laws requiring translation when necessary to facilitate understanding and participation.
Programs are proactive in supporting families with disabilities, ensuring they have the necessary aids and services they need to participate in the program. The goal is to open doors and provide support for children and families furthest from opportunity and offer them a place to belong.
Head Start staff are trained to recognize and address implicit biases, so preconceived notions about their background unfairly limit no child. Through updated resources like the ”Multicultural Principles for Early Childhood Leaders,” program staff are equipped to create environments where diversity is acknowledged and embraced.
For children with disabilities, Head Start programs provide tailored support like visual aids and personalized learning tools that help them thrive alongside their peers. They ensure children get the aid and services they are entitled to under disability rights laws.
Health is a key part of a child’s ability to learn and grow, and Head Start programs make health services a central part of children’s experiences. Head Start programs work to eliminate barriers families face, such as a lack of health insurance, language barriers, or limited access to doctors.
Head Start health staff partner with families to help them navigate these challenges, ensuring every child starts school healthily and ready to learn. Through nutrition programs, mental health services, preventive and follow-up care and more, each Head Start program works to close health services gaps and promote equitable outcomes for children.
Fundamental to the program is the belief that children thrive when families are fully engaged. That’s why the Head Start approach to family engagement goes beyond parent-teacher conferences. It’s about building genuine, respectful partnerships with families from all walks of life.
Head Start staff are trained to meet families where they are — culturally, linguistically and personally. Whether they are helping families experiencing homelessness acquire stable housing or supporting families facing economic challenges, Head Start programs ensure everyone has a seat at the table.
Through resources like the Family Economic Mobility Toolkit, programs help families build financial stability and create brighter futures for their children. By addressing not only the child’s needs but also the family’s, the Head Start program creates lasting, positive change for generations.
The Head Start mission has always been to break the cycle of generational poverty, providing children and families with a head start in life. The Head Start program is about so much more than academics. It’s about creating a world where every child — regardless of background, ability, or circumstance — feels confident and competent and knows they belong.
These children will persist as they continue to grow and learn even after they leave their Head Start programs.
Khari M. Garvin is director of the Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.