ERSEA Essentials: How Responsive ERSEA Services Build on Community Assessments

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Narrator: Community assessment plays an important role in every aspect of enrolling and serving Head Start-eligible children. Come with me as we look at how community assessment data can inform eligibility, recruitment, selection, enrollment, and attendance, which is also known as ERSEA.

Data collected as part of the community assessment can help programs identify where eligible children and their families are living in the larger service area. Data also allows programs to fine tune where to focus recruitment efforts. Having up-to-date information around children’s needs and available community services will support programs in crafting appropriate selection priorities. With these priorities, programs can enroll those children who will most benefit from Head Start services.

Referrals from community service providers will enable programs to develop a waitlist of eligible children and maintain full enrollment. And finally, accurate community assessment data will inform program planning on how to overcome barriers to consistent attendance. As a result, enrolled children will have the benefit of a full Head Start experience.

A strong, up-to-date community assessment is the foundation for ERSEA, which is the gateway to your program.