Understanding Addiction and Substance Use Stigma: What You Can Do to Help
Supporting families through substance use and recovery is a Head Start priority. Learn about addiction and substance use stigma and how you can make a difference in your work.
Mental Health
Head Start programs support the mental health of children, families, and staff every day. Early childhood mental health is the same as social and emotional well-being. It is a child’s developing capacity to express and regulate emotions, form trusting relationships, explore, and learn—all in the cultural context of family and community. The mental health of children and the adults that care for them is essential for school readiness.
Family Connections Workshop Series for Staff and Parents
Explore these six workshops, three for professionals and three for parents. All of the workshops focus on knowledge and skills related to strengthening relationships with adults and children and promoting family well-being.
Lessons Learned from Using the Family Connections Materials
Explore this guide that provides specific observations from long-term partnerships with Early Head Start and Head Start programs and offers an insight on the most effective use of the Family Connections materials.
Family Connections Readiness Guide
Explore this guide that includes information and processes focused on assessing a program's level of "readiness" to engage in the kind of work involved in reaching out to families and children facing adversity.
Recognizing Trauma and Building Resilience
Learn the definition of trauma and how it impacts young children. Discover how programs can be more trauma-informed.
Mental Health Planning for Disaster and Trauma
Explore how staff can plan and prepare before a natural disaster for the mental health needs of children, families, and staff that follow in the wake of an event.
Coping with Grief and Loss
Find out how Head Start staff can recognize their role in supporting children and families when they experience a loss.
Sensitive Conversations with Families
This podcast supports Early Head Start and Head Start staff to hold sensitive conversations with families on topics occurring outside of the classroom.
Screening for Substance Use Disorders: Head Start Can Help
This resource will help Head Start staff learn more about screening tools available to identify substance use disorders. It includes important considerations for choosing a screening tool and guidance for conversations with families.
Crisis and Support Hotlines
Crisis and support hotlines can offer immediate help. They provide counseling, resources, and support that are confidential and free. Many are available 24 hours a day.