Resources to Better Support Families Experiencing Homelessness
National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month
The U.S. Senate recently passed a resolution dedicating November as National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month. More than one million children under six years old are experiencing homelessness across the country, and NHSA strongly supported this resolution because recognizing this population of vulnerable children is an important step in supporting them.
In designating time to focus on children and families experiencing homelessness, we also acknowledge the efforts of Head Start programs who are doing the work to support these children and families all twelve months of the year.
Across the country, Head Start is currently serving over 55,000 children who are experiencing homelessness. For these children, Head Start provides a stable environment, consistent routines, and caring adults. For parents and caregivers, Head Start provides connections to the services and resources they need on the path to self-sufficiency. This multi-generational approach makes Head Start a true partner for families experiencing homelessness, through and beyond periods of housing instability.
In participation with National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month, NHSA has been sharing resources and inspiring stories throughout the month. Check them out below.
Resources for Head Start Programs
NHSA has long been supporting the Head Start community with resources tailored to serving children and families experiencing homelessness, particularly during last year’s Year of Whole Health initiative. Check out these resources for more information on how Head Start supports children and families experiencing homelessness and suggestions for increasing enrollment to reach even more in this vulnerable population.
- Blog: Homelessness and Head Start: Our Imperative
- Webinar: Driving Head Start Enrollment Part 2: Strategies for Reaching and Enrolling Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness
- Webinar: Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness
Conversation Starters from Sesame Street in Communities:
- A storybook that can be a tool to tackle the difficult and confusing conversation about homelessness with young children
- Fun, printable activities with important messages
- Videos with questions and prompts that help young children understand their “big feelings”
An Inspirational Story From a Head Start Parent:
Jennifer Johnson is a Head Start Parent Ambassador and the Policy Council Chairperson at the Ohio State University Early Head Start. Head Start was there for Jennifer and her family when they needed the support most. Now, she’s giving back as a national advocate for children, inspiring other parents to tell their stories of resilience.
Learn more about Jennifer’s story: Finding a Home in Head Start — How a Mom Experiencing Homelessness Became a National Advocate for Children.
Interested in continuing this conversation online? Log into The Block to engage in discussion, peer-to-peer learning, and idea and resource sharing with hundreds of other NHSA members within 9 different Communities of Practice. If you have questions about The Block and NHSA’s membership, please contact membership@nhsa.org.
