Head Start and Refugee Resettlement programs provide essential services to young refugee children and their families. This guide offers essential background information about each program and suggests questions refugees can ask to ensure that needed information is exchanged. The hope is that this initial networking will increase collaboration to benefit refugee children and families.

Benefits of Head Start and Refugee Resettlement Programs’ Collaboration

• They serve the same populations. Head Start and Refugee Resettlement programs serve young children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Almost all refugees will meet the eligibility criteria for Head Start services upon arrival.
• They can assist each other. Head Start and Refugee Resettlement programs can provide valuable information and resources to each other.
• They can learn from each other. Head Start programs encourage families to participate in center activities and programming, helping refugee families learn how to become engaged in their children’s education in this country. Refugee family engagement also helps promote culturally diverse Head Start programming.

For Head Start Programs: Talking Points to Engage Refugee Resettlement Programs

What to Know About Refugee Resettlement Programs

• Refugees are people who would prefer to return home but cannot, due to persecution. While most immigrants choose to leave their homes and come to the United States, refugees flee their homes fearing harm. As a humanitarian gesture by the United States government, a certain number of refugees are invited into the country each year.
• Refugees have varied backgrounds. Refugees’ backgrounds include:
  • Education: Some have college or professional degrees, and others have limited formal education and may not be literate in their own languages.
  • Family connections: Some come with or join extended family and community networks in the United States, but others arrive alone. Families have often lost members during war or the migration process, and some children may arrive with extended family or unrelated adults caring for them.
  • English ability: Some have studied English before they arrive, but most work hard to learn a new language.
  • Adjustment: Some adjust quickly to their new lives in the U.S., but others struggle to overcome the trauma of war or the challenges of adapting to a new culture.
• All refugees resettling in the U.S. hope to find safety, stability, and opportunity. A warm welcome, including culturally relevant services, can help them start to feel comfortable in their new home.
• The vast majority of refugees adjust successfully and contribute economically and socially in many ways. Refugees may contribute in local, national, and international ways. For example, many refugees own small businesses that are vital to communities, while others serve as teachers, doctors, and family child care providers, providing critical services.

Beginning Your Partnership: Key Questions to Ask Refugee Resettlement Programs

Program Information

• Describe the services you provide.
• On average, how many refugee children 5 years and under do you resettle each year?
• Which refugee groups are currently resettling in this area? Can you tell me about their general backgrounds and any special needs families might have?
• What kind of child care arrangements do refugee families typically use here?

Early Childhood Services

• Do you currently educate refugee families about early childhood development and education? About Head Start programs?
• Do you currently refer refugee families to Head Start programs or other early childhood services?
• Are you aware of other agencies or volunteers that help enroll refugee families in Head Start programs?
• Do you currently work with agencies that can help provide you with information about early childhood development and education?

Community Partnerships

• Do you have the capacity to provide interpretation and translation services to mainstream agencies, such as Head Start programs? If not, do you know agencies that do?
• Do you provide or partner with other agencies that provide adult refugees with vocational training, English, or GED classes? Do you provide employment services or refer refugees to such services?

Reflection

How can we collaborate to support young refugee children and their families?

For Refugee Resettlement Programs: Talking Points to Engage Head Start Programs

What to Know About Head Start Programs

• Head Start programs give children a “head start.” Since 1965, Head Start preschool programs have served low-income children, ages 3 to 5, by supporting their healthy development and success in school. Early Head Start programs were established in 1995 and serve pregnant women and children up to 3 years old.
• Head Start programs provide access to comprehensive services for the entire family. Services include:
  • Prenatal care
  • Nutrition
  • Health care
  • Mental and behavioral health care
  • Education
  • Other services to support children’s successful transition to kindergarten

Explore a full list of Head Start services for children and families new to the United States.

• Head Start programs conduct assessments of the needs and resources in their communities. These assessments are completed every five years, reviewed annually, and updated if there are community changes.
• Head Start programs are responsive to their communities. Although all Head Start programs follow national standards, each program has the flexibility to be as responsive as possible to local families and communities. For example, Head Start programs can:
  • Offer services in a center-based or home-based environment
  • Offer a part-day, full-day, or extended-day program with child care support
  • Provide transportation or not
  • Provide family child care services in a family-like setting
• Head Start programs prioritize families by:
  • Responding to the culture, language, interests, and circumstances of each parent or guardian.
  • Engaging parents in children’s learning and program decision-making as volunteers and as staff who are often prioritized for hiring.
  • Helping parents pursue their education and career goals through activities such as family literacy training, English or GED classes, small business classes, assistance with job preparation and searches, and employment in Head Start programs.

Beginning Your Partnership: Key Questions to Ask Head Start Programs

Program Information

• Please describe your program. Do you have home-based, center-based, family child care, half-day or full-day programs, year-round?
• How many refugee families are currently served by your program?

Community Assessments

• Are refugees currently included in your community assessment?
• Are refugee families included in your program’s selection criteria?
• What are the ways that families participate in your program? Can families participate while on the waiting list?
• What data is used to decide on the best approaches and communication modalities to engage with families in the community?

Community Partnerships

• Do you currently partner with any community organizations that can help you understand the cultural backgrounds of refugees and immigrants?
• Do you currently partner with any community organizations for translation and interpretation services?
• Do you currently partner with any community organizations to support adults with English or GED classes?
• How do you help families access job training or gain employment?

Reflection

How can we collaborate to support young refugee children and their families?

Last Updated: January 6, 2025