title: Exploring the impact of head start on parents: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The national Head Start Program uses a comprehensive, family-centered approach to foster healthy development for low-income children. Over a 1-year period, a university-local Head Start research team developed and implemented a pilot project to explore the impact of the Head Start's parental support services and other program activities. The interest was in determining any lasting effects on parents after Head Start.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the change in and impact on education, employment, and personal development for Head Start parents using a community-based participatory approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study involved 30 parent-child pairs randomly selected from graduate class lists. Face-to-face structured interviews conducted with parents focused on life changes and parent impact 2 years after Head Start. The focal areas included changes in and impact on education and employment, as well as the lasting effects of Head Start services and activities. Change was assessed using parametric and nonparametric tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Descriptive analysis showed changes in education and employment, but none were statistically significant. The program impacted education through financial and emotional support. For employment, educational support facilitated the changes noted. The results also show three other areas of parental impact-personal development, family relationships, and health education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that there are longer term parental outcomes that could be incorporated in assessments of Head Start effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Morgan State University School of Public Health and Policy, USA.
authors.forename: Kim Dobson
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sydnor
authors.forename: Mackessa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Headen
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies