Webinar: Fall 2019 First Findings from a National Study of AIAN Head Start Programs: What Can We Learn and How Can We Use the Data in Our Work?

Publication Date: April 8, 2021

Introduction

The American Indian and Alaska Native Family and Child Experiences Survey (AIAN FACES 2019) was designed and implemented through a partnership of Region XI AIAN Head Start leaders, researchers, and federal officials.  Region XI Head Start programs are those operated by grants to federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.  AIAN FACES 2019 is a national study of Region XI Head Start children and families.  The study was conducted with 22 Region XI Head Start programs during the 2019-2020 program year. This webinar is the first of a series on findings from the second round of AIAN FACES (first done in 2015).  The webinar provides a preview of first findings from fall 2019, information on how programs can use data from the study, and the perspectives of the Office of Head Start Region XI Regional Program Manager and a Region XI Head Start program director on the data.

Research Questions

  1. What are Region XI Head Start children’s home and community experiences?
  2. What are Region XI Head Start children’s families’ resources and needs?
  3. How are Region XI Head Start children doing at the beginning of the Head Start year in Fall 2019?

Purpose

This webinar explores findings from the fall 2019 data collection of AIAN FACES 2019. AIAN FACES offers Region XI an important source of nationally representative information. The Office of Head Start can understand national programming trends over time to inform targeted technical assistance, resource requests, and policy planning. Head Start grantees can compare their data to national data to understand program performance in context and inform grant and other funding applications. AIAN communities can identify successes and discuss opportunities for growth. Researchers can grow the research base and share findings with Native communities.

Key Findings and Highlights

  • 87% of Region XI Head Start children are American Indian or Alaska Native.
  • ​​​​​​A Native language is spoken to children in almost ½ of homes.
  • In the past 12 months, more than ½ of Region XI Head Start children took part in traditional ways such as hunting, carving, harvesting, collecting, and fishing.

Methods

The study was designed to be sensitive to and respectful of the diverse nature of Native cultures. Adult study participants completed surveys online, on the phone, or on paper. Children participating in the study met one-on-one with study staff for an assessment of their school readiness skills. 

Related Documents

Citation

Lertjuntharangool, Todd, Michelle Sarche, Lizabeth Malone, Sara Bernstein, Laura McKechnie, Meryl Barofsky, and Laura Hoard (2020). Fall 2019 First Findings from a National Study of AIAN Head Start Programs: What can we learn and how can we use the data in our work?, OPRE Report #2021-30, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Glossary

AIAN: American Indian and Alaska Native