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

NCT06670664 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: HeadStartREACH2
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 900
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

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.

Conditions

Head Start Recruitment, Selection, and Enrollment Practices

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• 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

Study Arms (1)

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

Interventions

No intervention OTHER

No intervention. This is a single-group study.

Head Start Program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• 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.

You may qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.: lead
• Department of Health and Human Services: collaborator
• Brazelton Touchpoints Center: collaborator

Related Publications (3)

• 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.

  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.

  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.

  BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Louisa Tarullo, EdD

  Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Louisa Tarullo, EdD

CONTACT

617-588-6720; ltarullo@mathematica-mpr.com

Harshini Shah, PhD

CONTACT

617-674-8360; hshah@mathematica-mpr.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 31, 2024
• First Posted: November 1, 2024
• Study Start: November 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: January 31, 2025
• Study Completion: September 24, 2025
• Last Updated: November 1, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
• Time Frame: Starting approximately four months after study publication is complete.
• 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.