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

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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Head Start Recruitment, Selection, and Enrollment Practices
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: No intervention

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.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 900

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Louisa Tarullo, EdD; Phone Number: 617-588-6720; Email: ltarullo@mathematica-mpr.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Harshini Shah, PhD; Phone Number: 617-674-8360; Email: hshah@mathematica-mpr.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

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.

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
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.	Other: No intervention; No intervention. This is a single-group study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Head Start Program Directors Survey - Program characteristics of the purposive sample	Study-developed survey instrument will collect data on Head Start program characteristics and the characteristics of the families the program serves. Will also collect roles and contact information for ERSEA lead staff members and staff members from community partner organizations so these respondents can be invited to complete their respective surveys. Conduct descriptive analysis of survey data to report program and community characteristics.	1 month
ERSEA Lead Staff Survey on Recruitment, Selection, and Enrollment Practices of purposive sample of programs	Study-developed survey instrument will collect data on respondent and Head Start program background characteristics; staffing and staff training related to recruitment, selection, and enrollment; development and use of recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices. Study will use the data to measure and report on program recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices in the community.	1 month
Community Partner Organization Staff Survey on Partnerships with purposive sample of Head Start programs	Study-developed survey instrument will collect data on the community partner organization characteristics; its partnership and communication with Head Start; and activities and training for connecting eligible families to Head Start. Study will use the data to measure and report on how community partners support Head Start recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices.	1 month
Head Start Parent/Caregiver Survey on Head Start Recruitment and Enrollment Experiences with purposive sample of Head Start programs	Study-developed survey instrument will collect data on family background and demographics as well as family experience with recruitment into Head Start; their experience with the waitlist; their experience enrolling into Head Start; and their overall experience with Head Start program supports and services. Study will use the data to measure and report on families' experiences with program recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices.	1 month
Focus Group Guide for Convenience Sample of ERSEA Lead Staff on Recruitment, Selection, and Enrollment Practices from purposive sample of Head Start programs	Study-developed qualitative protocol will collect data on ERSEA lead staff experience with developing and using recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices and which practices they found to be successful with families experiencing adversities. Study will use the data to measure and report on contextual information related to program recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices in the community.	1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
• Collaborators: Department of Health and Human Services; Brazelton Touchpoints Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Louisa Tarullo, EdD, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): November 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 24, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 31, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 31, 2024
• First Posted (Estimated): November 1, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 1, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 31, 2024
• Last Verified: July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: HeadStartREACH2

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: 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.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Starting approximately four months after study publication is complete.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: 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.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No