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.
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.
Foundations for Fostering Partnerships in Head Start and Early 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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/.
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
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.
Stages of Partnerships
All partnerships are unique and different. Learn how partnerships can follow these predictable stages that, when navigated skillfully, ensure success.
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).
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.
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.
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.”
Last Updated: February 12, 2024