Two-Year Comparison of Income, Education, and Depression among Parents Participating in Regular Head Start or Supplementary Family Service Center Services

Abstract

Changes after 2 years in a Head Start Family Service Center Demonstration Project were assessed through pre-implementation and postimplementation interviews with 80 parents of Head Start children to evaluate changes during the project noted for the children's parents. Compared with parents in regular Head Start, parents in the supplementary Family Service Center project reported more contact with staff, increased their functional literacy scores, and increased their family incomes. The percentage of these parents with high depression scores decreased. These changes encourage implementation of more intensive social services within Head Start programs as a means of effectively assisting Head Start parents.