The Head Start Connection
This page has been specifically designed to connect the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) service providers and Head Start programs. Both programs come under the Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services.
Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.
In April, 2007, Head Start convened a national conference on “Hispanic and other emerging populations.” One of its goals was to “Increase knowledge of the culture and language of Hispanics and other emerging populations to strengthen recruitment strategies and cultivate culturally and linguistically responsive community partnerships.” ORR provided information on ORR’s programs to the conference attendees and has encouraged them to partner with the resettlement community in providing services to refugee children.
To learn more about the Head Start program and find a program near you, visit their web site at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/
For Head Start programs, here are some important quick links from the ORR web page to assist you in outreach to the refugee provider network, our partners, and resources.
Voluntary Agencies http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/partners/voluntary_agencies.htm
State Refugee Coordinators http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/partners/state_coordina.htm
State Refugee Health Coordinators http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/partners/hthcoord.htm
National Mutual Assistance Associations http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/partners/maas.htm
Technical Assistance Providers http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resources/tech_asst_providers.htm
Cultural Orientation Resources http://www.cal.org/co/ Also, you may want to join the listserv for cultural orientation http://www.culturalorientation.net
Attached is a copy of the ORR presentation at the Head Start conference in April 2007.