An observational study in Head Start Recruitment, Selection, and Enrollment Practices, sponsored by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-11-01.
Sponsored by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. · Observational
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.
The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to expand understanding of how Head Start programs implement, recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices and how such practices reflect their community contexts. Using survey data collected from Head Start staff, enrolled families, and community partner organizations, the study aims to provide in-depth contextual information about Head Start programs' recruitment, selection, and enrollment practices and experiences; identify promising practices; and inform T/TA regarding recruitment, selection, and enrollment challenges and needs. Ultimately, this study seeks to share information with the wider field about promising practices to improve the recruitment, selection, and enrollment of families, including those experiencing adversities. The study will supplement the survey data with qualitative data collected through focus groups with Head Start ERSEA lead staff.
The investigators propose the following data collection activities, to be carried out in fall 2024:
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.
Exclusion Criteria:
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
No intervention. This is a single-group study.
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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 1 month
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified data from the study's four surveys will be transmitted to the Child \& Family Data Archive or a similar data archive as restricted use data files at the end of the study so it can be used by other researchers. The de-identified datasets will only include data related to study objectives and outcomes.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Icf
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.