Parent, Staff, and Stakeholder Perspectives on Implementation of a Housing Support Initiative in a Head Start Program

Area of Science:

• Early Childhood Education
• Social Work
• Public Health

Background:

• Homelessness significantly impacts early childhood development and family well-being.
• Head Start programs serve vulnerable populations, presenting an opportunity for integrated support services.
• Existing research on housing support for families with young children is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the implementation of a housing support pilot program (Pathways Home Early Childhood) within a Head Start setting.
• To understand the experiences of parents participating in the housing support program.
• To identify key components, infrastructure, processes, and facilitators for successful program implementation.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research design utilizing thematic analysis.
• Data collection through parent interviews, a staff focus group, and stakeholder interviews (n=22).
• Member-checking group to validate findings.

Main Results:

• Identified critical factors for program implementation, including necessary infrastructure and support processes.
• Documented both positive and negative parental experiences in securing housing.
• Highlighted economic and psychological benefits for families enrolled in the program.

Conclusions:

• The study provides actionable guidance for screening homelessness and supporting families within early childhood settings.
• Findings align with limited existing research on housing programs for families with children.
• Results offer insights for refining current programs and informing future evaluation and research efforts.