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.

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.

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

Exclusion Criteria:

• Does not meet the inclusion criteria

Head Start program directors; Head Start staff involved in implementing recruitment, selection, and enrollment activities; staff in community organizations with which the Head Start program partners to serve families eligible for Head Start; families who are enrolled in Head Start programs.

De-identified data from the study's four surveys will be transmitted to the Child & Family Data Archive or a similar data archive as restricted use data files at the end of the study so it can be used by other researchers. The de-identified datasets will only include data related to study objectives and outcomes.

Starting approximately four months after study publication is complete.

Access to the de-identified datasets will be controlled and overseen by the Child and Family Data Archive (or similar data archive). The datasets from this study will be restricted use data, which require an application process to access.