Community partnerships can help facilitate referrals from Head Start programs to domestic violence programs. When personal connections are made between programs, it may help family members feel safer and more confident in accessing support. In some communities, domestic violence programs are able to provide co-located services at the Head Start program to make their services more accessible and safer.

With a team-based approach, domestic violence programs and Head Start programs can work together to prevent violence and help reduce the risk of families experiencing further violence. Collaboration between Head Start and these programs benefits the community by increasing the number of family servicing agencies that are trauma-informed.

Additional benefits to collaboration include:

• Increasing access to safe and confidential resources for Head Start families currently experiencing domestic violence
• Increasing the number of Head Start staff who are knowledgeable about domestic violence and community-based resources (i.e., shelter, home visitation, legal options for survivors)
• Increasing the number of domestic violence staff who understand the services offered by Head Start
• Increasing the number of domestic violence staff who understand early childhood development
• Increasing the number of Head Start staff who understand the impact of domestic violence on children and have the skills to support children’s healing and resiliency

Use these resources to establish clear and sustainable partnerships in your community.

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Last Updated: October 2, 2023