Caring Conversations About McKinney-Vento Eligibility
Learn how to use a caring conversations approach with families to gather information about their living circumstances and determine McKinney-Vento eligibility for Head Start programs.
Family Support and Well-being
Family well-being occurs when all family members are safe, healthy, and have chances for educational advancement and economic mobility. Support services such as early care and education, housing and food assistance, and physical and mental health care positively contribute to the well-being of families and their children. When families face challenges that cause stress, including poverty and homelessness, their health and wellness can be negatively impacted. Engaging families as active participants in problem-solving and goal-setting can help them identify and use their own strengths to address the challenges they face. When families are healthy, safe, and economically stable, their children's health and well-being can thrive.
FAQs About Serving Families Experiencing Homelessness
Explore the Office of Head Start's answers to common questions about serving families experiencing homelessness.
Sharing the Family Economic Mobility: Taking Charge of Your Future Video Series
Share this video series with families to begin conversations about setting financial goals, creating action plans for tracking progress, and exploring options and benefits of increasing their financial capability.
Education and Career
Learn to support families’ goals around career pathways, finding a new job, getting a GED or high school diploma, accessing job training, pursuing and paying for college and higher education, or starting a business.
Debt and Credit
Learn to support families’ goals around accessing and reviewing credit reports and scores, building credit, managing debt and student loan debt, and avoiding predatory loans and identity theft.
Savings and Assets
Learn how to support families’ goals around building savings, buying a car, buying a home, saving for education, and saving for retirement.
Income and Spending
Learn to support families' goals around choosing financial products, making and using a budget, accessing public benefits, paying bills, filing taxes, and accessing tax credits.
Family Economic Mobility Toolkit
The Family Economic Mobility Toolkit shares information, ideas, inspiration, and hands-on resources to help Head Start staff partner with families on their journeys toward economic stability and mobility.
Respect Family Privacy and Confidentiality
Read these examples of respecting the privacy and confidentiality of families to strengthen relationships and trust. Then explore reflective questions to strengthen this practice.
Connect Families with Additional Supports
Explore these examples of connecting with other community organizations to help families access supports outside of Head Start. Then ask reflective questions to strengthen this practice.