Programs can offer families multiple options to complete the intake and enrollment process, including flexibility around location, time of day, and virtual or in-person interactions. Thoughtful planning allows programs to fill vacancies as soon as possible and ensure families who can benefit most from Head Start services are enrolled.
Questions for Consideration
- How do you use the intake and enrollment process to learn about families and their stories?
- How do staff use the enrollment process from the start to build positive, goal-oriented relationships with families based on respect and trust?
- How does the program create a welcoming, comfortable, and safe physical and emotional environment for families, virtually and in person?
- How do staff practice nonjudgmental, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approaches in conversations with families about enrollment?
- What processes do the program have to enroll families who speak a language that program staff do not know?
- How do staff respect variations in families’ cultures, experiences, expectations, and child-rearing beliefs and practices?
- How do staff work with families in completing enrollment paperwork in ways that respect a family’s culture, home language, and unique strengths?
- How do staff ensure confidentiality in enrollment processes? How do staff encourage families to share their personal lives and experiences at their own pace?
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Resource Type: Article
National Centers: Parent, Family and Community Engagement
Audience: Family Service Workers
Last Updated: November 15, 2024