This project explored family engagement activities and strategies within the context of Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS), which is distinct from the larger Head Start community in several notable ways: operational periods are adjusted to reflect agricultural seasons and migration patterns, programs serve children birth to kindergarten (whereas Head Start only serves preschool-age children), and families are primarily Mexican-American and Spanish-speaking. Research questions focused on the alignment between family engagement activities and strategies offered by centers and the activities that MSHS parents actually engage with. To answer the research questions, we analyzed data from the MSHS Study (2017), which provides a nationally representative picture of the MSHS community. This project was funded by the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as part of their 2023-2025 Secondary Analysis of Head Start Data Grants.
