Head Start “Geniuses” Chart State Strategy to Advance Equity

The state context in which Head Start programs operate is fundamental to their success. A state’s minimum wage impacts what Head Start programs pay their workforce and which families qualify. State Medicaid policy impacts the health and well-being of children, families, and staff. Investments in housing and anti-poverty programs can make or break family success. Not to mention, how — and how much — a state invests in early childhood can either support or isolate Head Start programs.

Understanding these numerous ways in which state policy affects Head Start, NHSA provides dedicated support for state-facing work that translates into partnerships with State Head Start Associations, support for State Head Start Collaboration Offices, policy briefs, and toolkits. In this work, we rely on our relationships with our member state associations and local programs to guide us forward because they know their state and local contexts best. They know what can move Head Start forward and how to get it done.

Recently, NHSA convened a team of “NHSA State Affairs Geniuses” — a group of NHSA members, nominated by their state associations for their expertise and commitment to advancing our field — to develop a resource for sharing state strategy lessons.

The result is the State Strategy Playbook, a tool that articulates six key focus areas and aligned tactics, while also addressing how to advance equity in Head Start, suggestions for dispelling common myths about the early learning program, and strategies for planning for the future.

Six focus areas for Head Start’s state work

1. Building and sustaining association strength, governance, and leadership in all 50 states, to ensure all Head Start programs have a strong state voice, partnerships, and opportunities to engage in peer exchange and advocacy.
2. Cultivating awareness and support for Head Start, which includes sharing about the program’s effectiveness and comprehensive services, strategic use of social media, and education of newly-elected governors and other state policymakers.
3. Ensuring the Head Start community is educated, expert, and recognized, so we can maintain our role as early childhood and family support leaders, while partnering with others who serve children and recognizing our amazing workforce and families.
4. Advocating for Head Start programs, staff, and families, so we can continue to improve the lives of those touched by Head Start and expand access, so more children can succeed in school and in life.
5. Expanding state pre-K access, partnerships, and alignment, so Head Start can provide pre-K services where that makes sense, so children who need Head Start can access it, and so we can create opportunities for workforce partnerships and collaboration.
6. Focusing on continuously improving, so the Head Start community can always get better at supporting children and families from at-risk backgrounds.

In each of these focus areas, the Geniuses offered activities that state associations and their leaders must do, could do with more time and interest, or should be considered as growth opportunities, for those who want to excel and lead our field.

Key Takeaway from the State Strategy Playbook: Advancing Equity

One of the Genius team’s defining contributions to the State Strategy Playbook was a set of ideas for how state leaders can advance equity in their work with Head Start. While our field is deeply rooted in equity, it isn’t often that we get to take a step back and think about how to build equity into our strategic work together, in our associations, and in our advocacy.

The Geniuses coalesced around the premise that individual associations need to define equity for themselves. As one Genius said,“The definition of how a state association focuses on equity may change over time based on existing programming, relevant issues, and opportunities in the state as well as real or emerging opportunities and threats. The definition of equity will define what threats and opportunities are relevant and deserve attention. Having a working definition of equity will indicate who the desired target population is and the areas of policy, practice, skills, and resources that should be addressed in strategies and actions. The Playbook should encourage a periodic review of the definition to maintain relevance.”

That said, in their discussions, the group elevated three areas of state strategy equity for strong consideration. In their own words:

1. Equity in representation across the states. “The priority would be to develop a Playbook to share in building a strong state association. This is the foundation! With a strong association, Head Start would have a place at the table in regards to Pre-K expansion and the association could be a leader in bringing our Head Start story to everyone. This would include the amount of funds that Head Start brings into the state.”
2. Equity in how we compensate our workforce. “Until we address the fact that a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education is a college major with the lowest projected lifetime earnings, we cannot have equity for staff or build a strong, professional workforce.”
3. Equity in how we communicate as a field. “I believe a focus on equity also involves strengthening communication among providers for shared resources. All state associations need regular input from all levels of service, not just the highest leadership. Front line staff are valuable resources themselves. Annual conferences are not enough to keep people connected and keep the issues on the front burner. Peer groups that can meet regularly (phone, video conference, in person, etc.) can help identify where there are shortfalls. Ongoing communication with input from across the state can help answer questions like, “What are rural challenges versus urban challenges related to equity?”

The State Strategy Playbook will be a defining and evolving foundation of NHSA’s state work for years to come. It serves as an example of an inter-state collaboration tool that is flexible enough to fit diverse state policy environments while meeting universal national objectives. It offers an orientation to new state leaders. It puts forth ideas for even the most seasoned of Head Start leaders. It is durable, because it comes from the field. It is another example of how NHSA works to listen to the field, partner, and unite for Head Start.

To become a member of NHSA or to renew your membership, please visit our Membership page.

To request an electronic version of the State Strategy Playbook, please reach out to your state Head Start association or Kent Mitchell, Director of State Affairs for NHSA (kmitchell@nhsa.org).