The 2021-2022 Study of Family and Staff Well-Being in Head Start FACES Programs
- Conditions
- Head Start Participation
- Registration Number
- NCT06512740
- Lead Sponsor
- Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
- Brief Summary
The 2021-2022 Study of Family and Staff Well-Being in Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) Programs (the 2021-2022 Study) builds on FACES 2019, a national study of children and families participating in Head Start programs. In the year following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need to understand how children, families, and Head Start staff were faring. The 2021-2022 Study explores child, family, and staff well-being, primarily in the programs that participated in FACES 2019.
- Detailed Description
Since 1997, the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) has been a source of information on the population in Head Start; staff qualifications, credentials, and opinions; Head Start classroom practices and characteristics; and the outcomes of children and families. The most recent nationally representative study was conducted in the 2019-2020 program year (entered as NCT03971435).
The motivation and goals of the Study of Family and Staff Well-Being in Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey Programs (the 2021-2022 Study) came from a need that arose as the COVID-19 pandemic continued affecting Head Start families' and staff's lives into another program year. The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funded Mathematica and its partner-Juárez and Associates-to conduct a new data collection effort, the 2021-2022 Study, in fall and spring of the 2021-2022 Head Start program year. The goal was to provide data on the characteristics and needs of families and staff starting 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, and given heightened interest in the Head Start workforce.
The 2021-2022 Study includes data from a large multistage sample of Head Start programs, centers, teachers, and families from across the United States. Although the 2021-2022 Study selected a nationally representative sample of programs, centers, teachers, and children, fewer participated in the 2021-2022 Study than expected. Data from the 2021-2022 Study provide a window into the experiences of a sample of Head Start children, their families, and staff who were able to participate in data collection between October 2021 and July 2022. Readers should not assume the data are nationally representative of all Head Start programs, centers, teachers, families, or children. The data provide a snapshot of the experiences of Head Start staff, families, and children during this difficult time.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 4825
Not provided
American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs (Region XI) or Migrant and Seasonal Worker Head Start programs (Region XII) were not eligible.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Social-emotional development November 2021-January 2022; April-July 2022 Indicators of social-emotional development were assessed using teacher report of several items on children's positive and problem behaviors. Please see the 2021-2022 Study User's Manual (Reid et al. 2024) for more information on the scores and technical information.
Parents' anxiety October 2021-January 2022; April-July 2022 Parents' anxiety levels were measured using items from the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Please see Spitzer et al. 2006 for more information.
Teachers' anxiety November 2021-January 2022; April-July 2022 Teachers' anxiety levels were measured using items from the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Please see Spitzer et al. 2006 for more information.
General health status October 2021-January 2022; April-July 2022 Indicators of physical well-being were assessed by parent report to a survey item on if child's health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor
Social-emotional development - Approaches to learning October 2021-January 2022; April-July 2022 Indicators of social-emotional development were assessed using teacher and parent report of approaches to learning using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study - Kindergarten Class of 1998 (ECLS-K). The items assess a child's motivation, attention, organization, persistence, and independence in learning. Please see U.S. Department of Education 2002 for more information on the scores and technical properties.
Center directors' depressive symptoms April-July 2022 Center directors' levels of depressive symptoms were measured using the short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Please see Radloff 1977 for more information.
Staffing challenges April-July 2022 Staffing challenges were measured by summarizing center director survey items about the extent to which staff turnover has been a problem in terms of maintaining consistency in operations and care of children, and about finding classroom coverage and having enough staff to operate at full capacity.
Parents' depressive symptoms October 2021-January 2022; April-July 2022 Parents' levels of depressive symptoms were measured using the short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Please see Radloff 1977 for more information.
Program directors' anxiety April-July 2022 Program directors' anxiety levels were measured using items from the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Please see Spitzer et al. 2006 for more information.
Center directors' anxiety April-July 2022 Center directors' anxiety levels were measured using items from the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Please see Spitzer et al. 2006 for more information.
Teachers' depressive symptoms November 2021-January 2022; April-July 2022 Teachers' levels of depressive symptoms were measured using the short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Please see Radloff 1977 for more information.
Program directors' depressive symptoms April-July 2022 Program directors' levels of depressive symptoms were measured using the short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Please see Radloff 1977 for more information.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Mathematica
🇺🇸Washington, District of Columbia, United States