A team of independent reviewers conducted a thorough environmental scan of educational and credentialing programs within each Head Start region, based on Head Start Staff Qualifications and Competency Requirements for Family Services roles (45 CFR §1302.91(d) and (e)(7)). Reviewers vetted programs based on their relevance to roles related to family services work, within Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Specifically, roles considered include family services worker, family services coordinator, and family services managers.

The review process included an in-depth review of publicly available information on the websites of programs identified by the environmental scan. Program information was then vetted with Head Start qualifications and requirements for a range of Family Services roles to determine their appropriateness for posting. An emphasis was placed on the types of certificates, degrees, and credential offered and the areas of study within degree and certificate programs, with a focus on programs offering social work, human services, family services, counseling, or a related field as a primary concentration.

For minimum requirements established by the Office of Head Start, refer to the qualifications and competency requirements for each role of interest to inform educational decision-making. All programs listed do not meet the requirements for all Family Services roles beyond minimum federal requirements, which are determined locally by individual Head Start programs. Individuals should refer to the competency requirements and local service agencies and contact educational and credentialing programs to inform decision-making.

These data do not represent an exhaustive list of programs. The databases provide a summary of general program information gathered from individual programs’ websites. Current links to programs are provided to facilitate information gathering. The databases will be updated regularly.

Last Updated: October 18, 2024