In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Economic Opportunity Act into effect, creating the first movement in the War on Poverty. Through this legislation, new programs were created to support low-income individuals and other vulnerable populations’ self-sufficiency and well-being. Two of the most groundbreaking programs coming out of the EOA were Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and Head Start.
While CAAs and Head Start are distinctly different from a funding and programmatic perspective, their goals and the families they serve can come together for an integrated approach to social services. There are many CAAs that were established in 1964 that also became the very first Head Start grantees in 1965. And some of those original Head Start grantees went on to also become Early Head Start grantees and remain in operation today.
CAAs and Head Start are part of the fabric of communities, and it is no surprise that these programs are built on standards for quality that help to ensure funding is reaching those most in need of services.
CAAs are administered through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and, in 2015, CSBG Organizational Standards were established to ensure CAAs have the capacity, infrastructure, and support to implement high-quality programs. One requirement of the CSBG Organizational Standards is that CAAs must conduct a community needs assessment at least once every three years. The community assessment will include data on poverty, population, and needs, in addition to “key findings on the causes and conditions of poverty and the needs of the communities served.” Additionally, standards require that CAAs analyze information collected directly from low-income individuals; gather information from key sectors, including community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, private sector, public sector, and educational institutions; and collect customer satisfaction data and customer input.
Head Start Program Performance Standards (Performance Standards) require that every Head Start/Early Head Start grantee conduct a comprehensive community assessment at least once during the program’s 5-year grant cycle. Per §1302.11(b)(2) of the Performance Standards, the comprehensive community assessment will provide data and information on areas such as eligible children and expectant mothers; education, health, nutrition, and social service, and transportation needs; work, school, and training schedules of parents with eligible children; other agencies serving eligible children; strengths of the community; and gaps in community resources.
For CAAs that are also Head Start grantees, efficiencies can be gained by conducting a community needs assessment that meets both CSBG Organizational Standards and Head Start Program Performance Standards requirements.
One of the most central aspects of a community assessment for CAAs and Head Start is need – what are the community needs? Demographics and poverty data lay a foundation for exploring family need, and whether looking at this data for the broader population (CAAs) or from the perspective of children and families specifically (Head Start), the data is the same. Similarly, community-level data on topics such as affordable housing, substance use, transportation, or mental health care, for example, are relevant to both programs. There will be a core set of data on demographics, poverty, and community needs that applies to both programs.
Certainly, there will be some data or information that will apply specifically to CAAs or Head Start. For example, a component of the needs assessment will need to specifically address the numbers and location of children eligible for Head Start/Early Head Start. For CAAs, data will include information about veterans and senior services. While a community needs assessment conducted for Head Start or a CAA – in isolation of the other – might not typically include all of these areas, bringing them together will help to enrich the story of community need for all populations served.
Finally, conducting a joint community assessment also creates efficiencies for information gathering from individuals/families served, agency staff, and community partners and resource providers. With a planned approach, agencies can conduct one set of surveys that will meet the needs of CAA and Head Start requirements. This is not only an efficient approach when conducting the community needs assessment, but also for those who are being asked to respond to surveys and provide information.
CAAs and Head Start have been some of the longest-standing initiatives to help individuals and families living in poverty, and we understand that these last few weeks may have brought new thinking or challenges to those doing this work. Foundations for Families offers a variety of consulting services to assist programs, including conducting community assessments. If you are interested to learn more or have questions, please be in touch and we would be glad to connect.
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