Positive Example of the Effects of Research on Children and/or Families

The Head Start PFCE Framework is an organizational guide for collaboration among families and Head Start and Early Head Start programs, staff, and community service providers to promote positive, enduring outcomes for children and families. (NCPFCE, 2013)

Working for an Early Head Start (EHS) program has showed me the benefits of building relationships.  Head Start offers a unique whole child/whole family program design coupled with a delivery system that includes local programs, national standards, monitoring, professional development, and family engagement (NHSA, 2020). Through child development research we can create prevention, health education, and intervention programs, help communities plan for services for children and their families, and determine what additional research studies are needed (CDC, 2020). Looking at the criteria that meets child development research and the goal of Head Start I can see how research benefits children and families.

Head Start programs are a resource for the community. These programs help build and encourage positive- parent child relationships.  Working toward Positive Parent-Child Relationships Outcome, providers and programs can 1) provide emotional and concrete support to parents, 2) respect diverse parenting styles, 3) value cultural differences and home languages, 4)  reinforce the importance of fathers and other co- parents, 5)  help parents connect with other parents and community members and resources, and 6) model warm, responsive relationships by engaging in these relationships with parents and other family members (NCPFCE, 2013).

Since August I have seen parents become more confident in being an advocate for their child. Parents have formed relationship with other parents and been support for one another. Through the modeling of positive relationships, children are then able to build relationships with their peers. Research shows that when families are isolated, lack resources, and live with greater stress and instability, the risk of negative child health and behavioral outcomes is higher. Children’s development can be thrown off track when parents are highly stressed or lack social support, or when they see their child’s temperament as difficult (NCPFCE, 2013).  With the current pandemic many Head Start programs in my area are still trying hard to ensure families have the resources and support they need.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Child Development Research. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/research.html  

The National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement. (2013). Positive Parent-Child Relationships. Retrieved from https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/rtp-parent-child-relationships.pdf

NHSA Why Head Start. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.nhsa.org/why-head-start/why-it-matters