American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (AIAN FACES)

In 1997, the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) was launched to provide descriptive, nationally representative information on the characteristics, experiences, and development of Head Start children and families, and the characteristics of the Head Start programs and staff who serve them. FACES has historically not included Region XI, whose programs are designed to serve predominantly American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) children and families. AIAN Family and Child Experience Survey (AIAN FACES), designed to fill this information gap, was first fielded in 2015. A second cohort was fielded in 2019.

AIAN FACES 2015
Data collection with Region XI children, families, classrooms, and programs was conducted in the Fall of 2015 and Spring of 2016. Twenty-one Region XI Head Start programs were included. Procedures for tribal review and approval in each of those 21 communities were followed. Information about this study has been shared broadly with tribal Head Start programs and tribal leaders via Office of Head Start tribal consultations, nationally-broadcast webinars, National Indian Head Start Directors Association annual conferences, the Head Start National Research Conference on Early Childhood, the National Research Conference on Early Childhood, and the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Council.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), and Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) have planned the study to be responsive to the needs of Region XI Head Start children, families, and programs. The AIAN FACES 2015 study design, engagement with programs, and dissemination efforts reflect advice from members of the AIAN FACES Workgroup (PDF), comprising Region XI Head Start directors, researchers, and federal officials. The members of the Workgroup share a commitment to addressing cultural issues in how the study will be carried out and findings shared with the Head Start community.

AIAN FACES 2019

A second cohort of AIAN FACES was launched in Fall 2019, using many of the same questionnaires and methods employed in FACES 2015. Some refinements to questions were made based on priorities at ACF, suggestions from the AIAN FACES 2019 Workgroup, or based on low variation in FACES 2015 data. Twenty-two Region XI Head Start programs were included. Procedures for tribal review and approval in each of those 22 communities were followed.

Similar to AIAN FACES 2015, the AIAN FACES 2019 study design, engagement with programs, and dissemination efforts reflect advice from members of the AIAN FACES Workgroup (PDF), comprising Region XI Head Start directors, researchers, and federal officials. The members of the Workgroup share a commitment to addressing cultural issues in how the study will be carried out and findings shared with the Head Start community.

AIAN FACES 2019 Study Flyer.pdf (PDF)

Data from AIAN FACES 2015 are archived at the Child and Family Data Archive. If you have any questions about accessing this restricted data set, please visit the Child and Family Data Archive Visit disclaimer page or email AIAN_OPRE_Data@acf.hhs.gov. All applications for data access will be reviewed by the Data Committee, comprising Head Start directors and researchers with tribal experience.

AIAN FACES 2015 and AIAN FACES 2019 are conducted through a contract with Mathematica Policy Research.

Point(s) of contact: Meryl Barofsky

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