U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Español

Local Early Childhood Partnerships

Starting an Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership

Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships support communities by expanding the number of high-quality early learning environments for infants and toddlers in low-income families. They integrate EHS comprehensive services and resources into an array of traditional child care and family care settings.

Long-term outcomes for the program include:

  • A more highly educated and qualified workforce providing care and education for infants and toddlers
  • An increased number of high-quality early learning environments
  • Improved progress in children’s school readiness and in child and family well-being
  • Well-aligned early childhood policies, regulations, and resources, with quality improvement support at national, state, and local levels

Explore these resources, tools, and strategies to support successful implementation of EHS-CC Partnerships. Training and technical assistance staff and EHS-CC Partnership grant recipients and their child care partners will find resources about partnerships, family child care, professional development, regulations and standards, and evaluation.

Watch this webinar that features Early Head Start programs and their child care partners who shared their experiences in recruitment, implementation of services, fiscal practices, customized onboarding, and support.

Primary Resources

Boy with paper shapes.

Planning Guide and Organizational Readiness Chart for Early Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships

Use this tool to determine your program's readiness for planning and implementing an Early Head Start or EHS-CC Partnership program.
Hands together.

Foundations for Fostering Partnerships in Head Start Programs

Explore the basics of Head Start partnerships. Learn ways to build collaborative relationships that streamline services and maximize funding and resources for children and families.
People shaking hands in a meeting.

Ensuring Collaborative Partnerships: Strategies for Effective Meetings, Decision-making, and Conflict Resolution

Conducting effective meetings, making collaborative decisions, and addressing conflicts are crucial in developing collaborative partnerships. This resource supports Head Start programs in honing those strategies.
Closeup view of team members looking at their notes.

Fiscal Consultants

Programs, at their discretion, can choose to use Office of Head Start (OHS)-trained consultants to facilitate the planning and implementation of an EHS-CC Partnership or an EHS Expansion.
Laughing mother and daughter playing with blocks.

Promoting Continuity of Care in Infant and Toddler Settings

Continuity of care is especially important for young children's development. Explore this resource to find background information and examples of strategies that leaders can use to help promote continuity of care in their state, territory, or tribe.
Man smiling in meeting.

Orientation Sessions for Partnerships Teams

Explore this series of Office Hours videos and tools to assist you in working with your EHS-CC Partnership. These presentations were conducted in 2015 by OHS, the Office of Child Care (OCC) federal staff, and national center training and technical assistance providers.
Child in front of a blackboard doing simple math problems.

Layering Early Head Start Services and Funds with Child Care

The Cost Estimation Tool for EHS-CC Partnership Services is designed to help EHS-CC Partnership grantees and their child care partners plan for the cost of delivering comprehensive EHS services to children enrolled in child care homes and centers. It provides a step-by-step process for identifying relevant costs and resources that support the implementation of an EHS-CC Partnership.
Person pointing to specific section of a printed item.

Cost Estimation Tool for EHS-CC Partnership Services

Explore the use of this tool, which provides a step-by-step process for identifying relevant costs and resources that support the implementation of an EHS program in a child care setting or EHS-CC Partnership.
Child showing a book to teacher.

Partnering with Parents to Access and Maintain Subsidy in Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships

Learn strategies for early childhood professionals and their local partners to help promote the use of child care subsidies among families in EHS-CC Partnerships.
Adults attending a workshop.

Environmental Health and Safety Tool

This baseline tool is one aspect of the work that OHS is doing in partnership with OCC to understand the current capacity of the EHS-CC Partnership grantees and their partners and to identify technical assistance or other supports needed.
Closeup of hands on notepads.

A Glossary for Partnerships

Use this glossary to establish the shared vocabulary partners need to have productive discussions and a sound working relationship.

Family Child Care

Mother and toddler smiling.

Implementing Early Head Start in Family Child Care

Hear about the Family Child Care (FCC) option within the EHS program and consider the expansion of quality FCC within communities. Learn strategies for building systems of seamless services.
Mother and daughter doing arts and crafts.

Education Requirements for Family Child Care Providers

Qualified FCC programs can provide care and education to young children in partnership program settings. Use this brief to help match candidates with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for FCC providers in partnership with Head Start and EHS  programs.
Infant in car seat.

Response Checklists for Family Child Care Homes

As a family child care provider, you may find that the stress of an actual emergency affects your response. Use these three checklists when exercising a response plan.
Paper dolls.

National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) Accreditation Brochure

Learn more about high quality family child care and how implementing the quality standards for NAFCC accreditation raises the quality of care children receive.

Professional Development

Smiling mother, father, and son reading book together.

Steps to Earn Your Family Child Care CDA Credential

Take a look at the Council for Professional Recognition website to learn the steps to earn an FCC Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
Young girl reading book.

Education Requirements for Family Child Care Providers

Use this brief to better understand the Head Start regulations for staff and considerations for family child care providers.
Woman sitting at desk using computer.

Individualized Professional Development (iPD) Portfolio

The iPD Portfolio is an online platform created to support ongoing professional development for staff in Head Start and child care settings. Access the Making Strides training modules for EHS-CC Partnerships that are self-paced and based on staff roles and interests.
Teacher and child doing arts and crafts activity with water bottle.

Coaching as a Tool for Delivering Professional Development

A key goal of the EHS-CC Partnerships is to increase the supply of high-quality early learning environments for infants and toddlers. Learn how EHS-CC Partnership programs do this by investing in coaching the infant and toddler child care workforce.
Man and toddler playing with balls in a basket.

The Education Navigator: A Program to Support Child Care Providers' Professional Development

Learn about the Education Navigator program. It helps child care partner staff members obtain a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential™. Explore how the Education Navigator provides support and guidance to assist staff as they make their way through community college. The program was developed by the Maricopa County Human Services Department (MCHSD) of Arizona.
Child and parent sitting on floor.

Introducing Early Educator Central

This Office Hour introduces Early Educator Central (EEC): Pathways for Credentials and Degrees for Infant/Toddler Educators. Learn more about EEC at https://earlyeducatorcentral.acf.hhs.gov/.
Empty classroom with chalkboard.

Supporting Providers in Obtaining Their Child Development Associate Credential

Learn how one grantee helped child care partner staff members obtain required credentialing. Explore specific examples of how this grantee used innovative practices to make this happen.

Additional Support

Teacher and student doing arts and craft activity.

Providing Continuity of Care to Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs

It is important for all children to have continuity of care. Explore examples of how EHS-CC Partnership grantees support consistent caregiving in programs.
Floor play, teacher with four toddlers.

Stages of Partnerships

All partnerships are unique and different. Learn how partnerships can follow these predictable stages that, when navigated skillfully, ensure success.
Illustration of teacher with three children.

Head Start Program Performance Standards Relating to Ratios and Group Size

Use these infographics to learn about the Head Start Program Performance Standards relating to ratios and group size (i.e., Center-based, 45 CFR §1302.21 and Family child care option, 45 CFR §1302.23).
Girl laying sideways, playing and laughing.

Partnership Basics: Strategies for Creating Successful Partnerships

Partnerships are not simple or easy. Consider these strategies to make sure all partners share the same vision and mission and understand the anticipated results.
Boy painting at classroom table.

A Guide to Effective Consultation with Settings Serving Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families: Core Knowledge, Competencies, and Dispositions

Explore this collaboratively developed document that defines the core knowledge, competencies, and dispositions for consultants working in all early care and education settings and sectors serving infants, toddlers, and their families.
Three children painting.

Infant/Toddler Consultant Self-Assessment Tool

Consultants play an important role in supporting the quality of settings serving infants, toddlers, and their families. Use this self-assessment tool as a companion to “A Guide to Effective Consultation with Settings Serving Infants, Toddlers, and their Families: Core Knowledge, Competencies, and Dispositions.”

Read more:

HeadStart.gov

official website of the Administration for Children and Families

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov