The Role of Early Head Start Programs in Addressing the Child Care Needs of Low-Income Families with Infants and Toddlers

Author: Love, J., M., Constantine, J., Paulsell, D., Boller, K., Ross, C., Raikes, H., et al.
Publisher: Administration for Children & Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Publication Date: 2004, February
Full text available online at: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/resources/ECLKC_Bookstore/PDFs/57CB3E803FB687371690A1FAFBAD5C01.pdf

Abstract (written by WestEd)

This report assesses the quality of care provided in Early Head Start child care centers and in community centers providing child care to families in Early Head Start by comparing them to control group families that used other child care arrangements. Overall, children at Early Head Start child care centers experienced a higher quality of child care according to the Early Head Start Performance Standards, with a lower child-adult ratio and a higher frequency of caregivers' interaction with children. Furthermore, all child care centers serving Early Head Start families reported a lower incidence of negative behaviors compared to the control group, and very high percentages of parents of children in Early Head Start were satisfied with their child care arrangements.

Also, the study found that Early Head Start children were more likely to spend more hours in child care than their counterparts in the control group. Overall, Early Head Start children demonstrated a higher level of development compared to the children not participating in Head Start.