Slide 1

George L. Askew, MD, FAAP

Office of the Assistant secretaryAdministration for Children and FamiliesU.S. Department of Health and Human Services

American Association of nursing38th annual meeting and conferenceOctober 14, 2011Research in Early Head Start

2What I Will Cover TodayBrief Overview of Administration for Children and FamiliesBrief Overview of Early Head StartReview of Research in Early Head Start (BABY FACES)Questions and Answers

3Administration for Children and Families

4Head StartEarly Head StartEstablished 1995Serves children birth to three: 1008 programs; over 133,000 childrenPromotes 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 Development3 other areas of importance: Administrative Management, Continuous Improvement and Children with Disabilities

What is Early Head Start?5Head StartEarly Head StartEstablished 1995Serves children birth to three: 1008 programs; over 133,000 childrenPromotes 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 Development3 other areas of importance: Administrative Management, Continuous Improvement and Children with Disabilities

What is Early Head Start?6

Service Delivery: PIR & Baby FACES7Staff CharacteristicsTeachersHVHighest level of education:High school or less62Some college2220Associates3927Bachelors or higher3351

Field of study early childhood or child development6459

CDA554

Elevated depressive symptoms86

Linguistic and Ethnic Diversity9What Do We Know About Health of EHS Children?

10Children Are Healthy at Birth and Age 1Low 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 11Poor Feeding Practices Start Early

Percentage Parent Reported Feeding Practices at Age 112Some Incidence of Positive Feeding Practices

PercentageParent Reported Feeding Practices at Age 113Childrens BMI Similar to Other Low Income SamplesAbout 1/3 are overweight or obese at age 216 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 overweightRates of overweight and obesity not predicted by feeding practices or other characteristics (including race/ethnicity)

14Programmatic InitiativesOffice of Head Start is piloting obesity prevention programs:

Head Start: I Am Moving I Am Learning

Early Head Start: Little Voices for Healthy Choices

15Overall Impacts for Children: Age 3Higher immunization rateFewer emergency room visits for accidents and injuriesCognitive development (higher Bayley scores & fewer in low-functioning group*)Larger receptive vocabulariesLower levels of aggressive behaviorGreater sustained attention with objects, engagement of parent, and less negativity

16Overall Impacts for Parents: Age 3More positive (and less negative) parenting observed in parent-child play: both mothers and fathers Higher HOME scores, more stimulating home environments, support for learningMore daily readingLess spanking: both mother and father reportMore hours in education and job training

17Impact on BreastfeedingFor those women who enrolled during pregnancy:

44% of EHS moms

33% of the control group 18Questions?s19Promoting happy, healthy and successful children, strong families and supportive communities

20Chart10.030.480.450.020.01

Child Level PIR 2007-2008Child Level: PIR 2007-2008

Sheet1Child Level PIR 2007-2008Combination3%Center48%Home45%Family Child Care2%Locally Designed1%To resize chart data range, drag lower right corner of range.

Chart10.710.150.14

Baby FACES Spring 2010Program Level:Baby FACES Spring 2010

Sheet1Baby FACES Spring 2010Home & Center71%Center only15%Home only14%To resize chart data range, drag lower right corner of range.

Chart16917123

Language

Sheet1LanguageEnglish69Spanish17English & Spanish12Other3To resize chart data range, drag lower right corner of range.

Chart137351710

Race/Ethnicity

Sheet1Race/EthnicityHispanic37White35Black17Other10To resize chart data range, drag lower right corner of range.

Chart13930191914125

Column1

Sheet1Column1Milk before 12mo39Bed w/bottle30Candy daily19Salty snacks daily19Sugary bev. daily14Solid food