Head Start REACH: Strengthening Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Approaches with Families.

NCT ID: NCT06670664

Last Updated: 2024-11-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 900 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2025-09-24

Brief Summary

Mathematica, funded by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will conduct a one-time mixed-methods study to improve understanding about Head Start programs' practices for recruitment, selection, and enrollment of families experiencing adversities. Using data gathered from surveys and focus groups, this study aims to provide in-depth contextual information about recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices and experiences; identify promising practices; and inform training and technical assistance (T/TA) regarding recruitment, selection, and enrollment challenges and needs.

Data collection will occur in fall 2024. The study team will field surveys with Head Start staff from up to 60 Head Start programs; parents/caregivers from those 60 programs, and staff from up to 180 community partner organizations that work with those 60 Head Start programs. We will also conduct focus groups with the eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance (ERSEA) lead staff from some of the programs.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to expand understanding of how Head Start programs implement, recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices and how such practices reflect their community contexts. Using survey data collected from Head Start staff, enrolled families, and community partner organizations, the study aims to provide in-depth contextual information about Head Start programs' recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices and experiences; identify promising practices; and inform T/TA regarding recruitment, selection, and enrollment challenges and needs. Ultimately, this study seeks to share information with the wider field about promising practices to improve the recruitment, selection, and enrollment of families, including those experiencing adversities. The study will supplement the survey data with qualitative data collected through focus groups with Head Start ERSEA lead staff.

The investigators propose the following data collection activities, to be carried out in fall 2024:

1. A program director web survey: To obtain information about staff to guide the selection of ERSEA lead staff and community partners for the ERSEA lead staff survey and community partner organization staff survey. To obtain information about the characteristics of the families in the program and community, and program's enrollment numbers.

2. An ERSEA lead staff web survey: To obtain information to understand a program's use, perceived effectiveness of, and challenges with recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices; identify promising practices for replication.

3. A community partner web survey: To obtain information to understand how community partner organization staff support the recruitment, selection, and enrollment of families into Head Start programs.

4. A parent/caregiver survey that can be completed on paper or via the web: Obtain information about characteristics of families enrolled in Head Start and understand their reasons for choosing Head Start, as well as their experiences with and perceptions of recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices.

5. A semi-structured focus group guide for ERSEA lead staff: Obtain information to understand the perceived effectiveness of recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices; understand promising practices for replication.

Conditions

Head Start Recruitment, Selection, and Enrollment Practices

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_ONLY
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

Head Start Program

Recruited Head Start program and its program director, a staff member in charge of recruitment, selection, and enrollment, and community partners who help support those efforts, and parents/caregivers of students enrolled in one classroom.

No intervention

Intervention Type: OTHER

No intervention. This is a single-group study.

Interventions

No intervention

No intervention. This is a single-group study.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Program director at Head Start program
• ERSEA staff members at Head Start program
• Staff at community partner organizations that work with Head Start program
• Families enrolled in Head Start program

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Department of Health and Human Services

FED

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Brazelton Touchpoints Center

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Louisa Tarullo, EdD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Central Contacts

Louisa Tarullo, EdD

Role: CONTACT

ltarullo@mathematica-mpr.com

617-588-6720

Harshini Shah, PhD

Role: CONTACT

hshah@mathematica-mpr.com

617-674-8360

References

Baxter, C, N. Aikens, L. Tarullo, C. Ayoub, J. Roberts, C. Mondi-Rago, and M. I. Gaither. "Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Retention Strategies with Head Start-Eligible Families Experiencing Adversity: A Review of the Literature." OPRE Report #2022-97. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Shah, H, T. Shenbanjo, C. Lauver, K. St. Kitts, N. Aikens, and L. Tarullo. "Strengthening Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement Approaches with Families: The Head Start REACH Case Study Report." OPRE Report #2023-132. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Shah, H., and L. Tarullo. "Reaching and Supporting Families Most in Need: Lessons and Practice Considerations from the Head Start REACH Case Studies." OPRE Report #2023-295. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

HeadStartREACH2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id