As a two-generation comprehensive child development program, Early Head Start can play a unique protective role in supporting families and reducing gaps caused by poverty and racism. In fact, research has documented many significant impacts on Black children and families. Understanding the mechanisms of how the EHS program leads to long-term positive impact for Black children offers the opportunity to inform the targeting and delivery of services to best support Black children and families. The goal of this project is twofold: 1) to understand what early impacts of EHS lead to better social-emotional well-being at age 5 and grade 5 for Black children and 2) to explore whether the findings are similar across primary mode of EHS service delivery, home visiting or child care.

ARC team: Rachel Chazan Cohen, Caitlin Lombardi, Rong Huang

Funder: Office of Planning Research & Evaluation; Administration for Children & Families; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services