Early Head Start Rising

Only 11% of income-eligible infants and toddlers have access to Early Head Start.

This has to change. Early Head Start provides pregnant women, infants, and toddlers with high-quality education and care during the most rapid and influential period of brain development. By intervening as early as possible, Early Head Start serves as a buffer to prevent and address childhood trauma, hunger, poor health, housing instability, and other outcomes associated with growing up in poverty. Concurrently, programs help parents during the most difficult and stressed time, when their own well-being and goals can be impossible to achieve without support and partnership.

NHSA is committed to expanding our work with Congress, the Office of Head Start, states, and Early Head Start programs, as well as child care partners, and other allied systems. We are focused on:

  1. Raising awareness of the need for more Early Head Start access and all the good that existing programs do through the development of research-tested messaging and expanded media efforts.
  2. Raising a stronger Early Head Start community of practice able to deliver the highest-quality services and support and expand as community needs and partnership opportunities arise.
  3. Raising federal, national, state, and local community and policymaker support around a common set of policy priorities and approaches that will lead to a significant expansion of Early Head Start.

Millions of infants and toddlers who qualify for Early Head Start cannot access it due to limited resources and a lack of awareness. They are counting on us to act. Join Early Head Start Rising.

Related Content

Related Stories

The Formula Shortage and Early Head Start

Parents and caregivers across the country are anxious and scared about the ongoing formula shortage. Early Head Start program staff know all too well the negative impacts food insecurity and hunger have on children and families and understand why the formula shortage is top-of-mind for so many caregivers across the country. Here’s the latest information…

Read More

EHS Increases Involvement Among Fathers

In South Carolina at Vital Connections of the Midlands Early Head Start center, fathers are front and center. “Too many times, we see mothers receiving all of the communication and information about their children and ways they can support these critical developmental years,” says Jerome Thompson, fatherhood specialist for Share Head Start/Early Head Start and…

Read More

One Early Head Start Mother to All New Mothers: “I’m so proud of you!”

New mothers today are inundated with information. And now with social media, where almost half of parents of newborns turn for information, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. “When I became a mom, I was on my own trying to figure it out. I was head down and focused on graduating so I could be more for kids. Once…

Read More

Finding a Home in Early Head Start

One parent’s story about finding a home in Early Head Start—an experience that turned out to be instrumental in her family’s journey.

Read More

Home Visitors in WV Approach Families with Understanding

Home visitors provide comprehensive child development services in the home environment, including support of the parent-child relationship.

Read More

Families Experiencing Poverty on Journey to Financial Stability

Family Service Worker Michelle Myers has seen firsthand how Early Head Start helps families experiencing poverty lift themselves out of poverty once they have the resources and support they need to reach their goals. “Having at least one trusting and supportive person can make a world of difference,” she says. As a family service worker…

Read More
  • 1
  • 2