Talking Points

Let us review the features of Early Head Start to be sure everyone understands the basics about the program. The program began in 1995 and in 2003 has grown to over 700 programs serving more than 62,000 children. Early Head Start is funded at about 10% of the Head Start budget.

Early Head Start programs are all Head Start programs, but ones that serve pregnant women and their husbands or partners and families with children from birth through age 3.

As such, all Early Head Start programs are required to follow the high standards set by the Head Start Program Performance Standards. The Performance Standards reflect the best thinking from many fields about what is important to include in a high quality early childhood development program.

While all programs follow the Performance Standards, every program tailors its approach to the community it serves. Services provided usually fall into one of three program approaches—home-based, center-based, or mixed-approach (combining both home-based and center-based approaches). In some mixed-approach programs, the same families receive both home-based and center-based services; in other mixed programs, the same families receive one or the other.

[If there is an Early Head Start program in your community, provide a few facts about the local program.]

Additional Information:

The Head Start Performance Standards were revised in 1995 when Early Head Start was initiated. The new Standards became official in 1998. They were developed with input from thousands of experts, including early childhood specialists, doctors and nurses, social workers, psychologists, and parents.

Refer to the Early Head Start Information Kit for more background information on the Early Head Start program.

Discussion Questions:

• Identify the Early Head Start programs in your area.