MEF partnered with Baltimore City Head Start (BCHS) and the Center for Urban Families (CFUF) to develop a national model for promoting active fatherhood engagement in Head Start.
In the first phase of this work, MEF conducted a literature review to identify best practices for engaging fathers in Head Start. MEF also carried out a series of interviews and focus groups with Head Start staff and parents to understand successes, challenges, and recommendations for improving father engagement services. Based on these findings, MEF generated 13 specific recommendations for implementing a comprehensive father engagement plan at BCHS.
In the second phase, BCHS and CFUF began implementing the recommended model for father engagement at BCHS. MEF supported the team by collecting information from Head Start staff and caregivers to inform continuous quality improvement efforts.
As the culmination of this work, the team developed a national resource guide to share lessons learned with other Head Start programs interested in replicating this model. Grounded in best practices and enriched by insights from this multi-year partnership, the guide offers practical steps, reflective questions, real-world examples, and helpful resources to support Head Start programs in building and sustaining a father-friendly program culture.