research in early head start

GEORGE L. ASKEW, MD, FAAP

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARYADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

A M E R I C A N A SS O C I AT I O N O F N U R S I N G3 8 T H A N N UA L M E E T I N G A N D C O N F E R E N C E

O C T O B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 1

Research in Early Head Start

What I Will Cover Today

Brief Overview of Administration for Children and Families

Brief Overview of Early Head StartReview of Research in Early Head Start

(BABY FACES)Questions and Answers

Administration for Children and Families

Head StartEarly Head Start

Established 1995 Serves children birth to three: 1008 programs; over

133,000 children Promotes healthy prenatal outcomes, enhances the

development of infants and toddlers, and promotes healthy family functioning.

4 Cornerstones: Child Development, Family Development, Community Building and Staff Development

3 other areas of importance: Administrative Management, Continuous Improvement and Children with Disabilities

What is Early Head Start?

Service Delivery: PIR & Baby FACES

Staff Characteristics

Teachers HVHighest level of education:

High school or less 6 2Some college 22 20Associate’s 39 27Bachelor’s or higher 33 51

Field of study early childhood or child development 64 59CDA 55 4Elevated depressive symptoms 8 6

Linguistic and Ethnic Diversity

What Do We Know About Health of EHS Children?

Children Are Healthy at Birth and Age 1

Low rates of premature birth and low birth weight (about 10 percent)

63 percent were breastfed (average 4 months)

96 percent have insurance coverage92 percent up-to-date immunizations74 percent had well-child checkups

Poor Feeding Practices Start Early

Percentage

Parent Reported Feeding Practices at Age 1

Some Incidence of Positive Feeding Practices

Percentage

Parent Reported Feeding Practices at Age 1

Children’s BMI Similar to Other Low Income Samples

About 1/3 are overweight or obese at age 2– 16 percent are overweight (85-94th percentile)– 17 percent are obese (95th percentile or higher)

Just 6 percent of parents report a medical professional said child is overweight

Rates of overweight and obesity not predicted by feeding practices or other characteristics (including race/ethnicity)

Programmatic Initiatives

Office of Head Start is piloting obesity prevention programs:

– Head Start: I Am Moving I Am Learning

– Early Head Start: Little Voices for Healthy Choices

Overall Impacts for Children: Age 3

Higher immunization rate Fewer emergency room visits for accidents and

injuries Cognitive development (higher Bayley scores &

fewer in low-functioning group*) Larger receptive vocabularies Lower levels of aggressive behavior Greater sustained attention with objects,

engagement of parent, and less negativity

Overall Impacts for Parents: Age 3

More positive (and less negative) parenting observed in parent-child play: both mothers and fathers

Higher HOME scores, more stimulating home environments, support for learning

More daily reading Less spanking: both mother and father report More hours in education and job training

Impact on Breastfeeding

For those women who enrolled during pregnancy:

44% of EHS moms

33% of the control group

Questions

?s

Promoting happy, healthy and successful children, strong families and supportive communities