Head Start is a national program that helps young children from families with low incomes prepare to succeed in school. It does this by working to promote children’s early learning and health and their families’ well-being. Head Start connects families with medical, dental, and mental health services to ensure that children are receiving the services they need to support their development. Head Start also involves parents in their children’s learning and development and helps parents make progress on their own goals, such as housing stability, continuing education, and financial security (Administration for Children and Families 2020).  Head Start provides grants to local public and private nonprofit and for-profit agencies. The agencies in turn deliver comprehensive services to children and families with low incomes.

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, funded Mathematica Policy Research to prepare and conduct the American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (AIAN FACES 2015)—which focused on Region XI, or programs operated by federally recognized tribes. This first national descriptive study of children and families in Region XI Head Start programs provided data to assess the strengths and service needs of both AIAN and non-AIAN children and families in Region XI and in turn help inform policies and practices. Mathematica conducted a second round of the study, AIAN FACES 2019, and then also conducted the 2021–2022 Study of Family and Staff Experiences in AIAN Head Start FACES Programs (2021–2022 Study), which built on the AIAN FACES 2019 program sample. More information on the 2021-2022 Study can be found here.