HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HEAD START & EARLY HEAD START COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT DECEMBER 2020 Prepared by Sayra Arias, Research Coordinator The Research and Evaluation Institute Harris County Department of Education 2020 Head Start Community Assessment The Research and Evaluation Institute GRANTEE PARTNERS & ASSESSMENT TEAM AVANCE HOUSTON, INC Antoinette Montgomery, Chief Administrator Early Head Start and Head Start Education Programs Christiana Bekie, Director of Research, Quality Improvement, & Compliance BAKERRIPLEY Cimberli Darrough, Director of Head Start and Early Head Start Adrian Yam, Director of Program Services GULF COAST COMMUNITY SERVICES ASSOCIATION Tiamoiya Lee, Director of Head Start and Early Head Start HARRIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Venetia Peacock, Director of Head Start and Early Head Start Gulshan Rahman, Assistant Director of Compliance and Family Services Gino Kamaya, Head Start Compliance Manager THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION INSTITUTE OF HCDE Darlene Breaux, Director Yi Ren, Manager Sayra Arias, Research Coordinator 1 2020 Head Start Community Assessment The Research and Evaluation Institute TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 State of the Grantee ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Community Characteristics .................................................................................................................................. 23 Demographics .................................................................................................................................................... 24 The Local Economy ............................................................................................................................................ 36 Health ................................................................................................................................................................ 44 Environmental Health ....................................................................................................................................... 56 Child Development and Child Care Programs ..................................................................................................... 60 Public Pre-Kindergarten Programs .................................................................................................................... 60 Subsidized Child Care Centers and Homes ........................................................................................................ 60 Eligible and Available Children .......................................................................................................................... 62 Strengths and Needs ............................................................................................................................................ 64 Family Survey .................................................................................................................................................... 64 Family Services Providers Survey ...................................................................................................................... 71 Community Partners Survey.............................................................................................................................. 79 Comparison of Respondent Views .................................................................................................................... 86 Challenges and Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 94 Community Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 104 Appendix – Survey ............................................................................................................................................. 109 References ......................................................................................................................................................... 120 2 2020 Head Start Community Assessment The Research and Evaluation Institute EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Every five years, Head Start and Early Head Start grantees are required to conduct a comprehensive community assessment that is used in decision making for program planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as to respond to new federal regulations and initiatives, mobilize community resources and partnerships, and reach out to additional funders. This assessment is designed to help identify current trends in the communities that Head Start serves, understand the needs of Head Start eligible children and their families, and become aware of resources available for families. The Executive Summary is presented according to the following outline: 1. State of the Grantee 2. Community Characteristics 3. Child Development and Child Care Programs 4. Strengths and Needs 5. Community Resources 6. Challenges and Recommendations STATE OF THE GRANTEE Since January 1999, HCDE has operated Head Start programs in the eastern portion of Houston and Harris County. The program is situated in schools, community centers, and independent sites in the cities of Humble, Channelview, Crosby, Baytown, and La Porte, Houston, Pasadena, Deer Park, and Clear Creek. DEMOGRAPHICS AND LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME The 2018-2019 Head Start Program Information Report (PIR) indicates that approximately 57.6% of the HS population and 60.8% of the EHS population is composed of Hispanic/Latino children while Black/African American children make up 35.3% of HS participants and 34.9% of EHS participants. Furthermore, English was the primary language spoken in the home of 65.5% of HS families and 74.1% of EHS families. EMPLOYMENT AND FAMILY STRUCTURE OF HCDE FAMILIES During 2018-2019, the HCDE Head Start program served 1,321 families, 67.5% of which were supported by single parents. The employment status of both family types revealed subtle changes throughout the three years. More than half of single-parent households were employed and an average of 77.4% of two-parent households had one employed parent from 2015-2019. During 2018-2019, the HCDE Early Head Start program served 155 families, 81.3% of which were supported by single parents. The employment status of both family types revealed subtle changes throughout the three years. 3 2020 Head Start Community Assessment The Research and Evaluation Institute More than three-fifths of single-parent households were employed and an average of 68.3% two-parent households had one employed parent from 2015-2019. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT HCDE’s HS parents have even less educational achievements when compared to the general population of HCDE’s Service Area. See the following table to compare education levels: Educational level HCDE HS Parents HCDE EHS Parents HCDE Service Area Total Population Less than High School 33% 25% 20.3% High School or GED 54% 57% 26.2% Some College or associate degree 10% 14% 30.6% Bachelor’s degree or higher 3% 4% 22.9% Compared to the general population in HCDE Head Start’s Service Area, HCDE HS and EHS had lower levels of educational attainment. A total of 33% of HCDE HS parents and 25% of HCDE EHS parents had less than a high school diploma compared to 20.3% of the total population in the service area. Additionally, A total of 54% of HCDE HS parents and 57% of HCDE EHS parents earned a high school diploma compared to 26.2% of the total population in the service area. A total of 10% of HCDE HS parents and 14% of HCDE EHS parents had completed some college or an associate’s degree compared to 30.6% of the total population in the service area. A total of 3% of HCDE HS parents and 4% of HCDE EHS parents had a Bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 22.9% of the total population in the service area. COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS Harris County, the third-most populous county in the US and the most populous in Texas covers an area of 1,777 square miles. Four Head Start programs operate within the boundaries of Harris County. HCDE Head Start operates in the eastern half of Harris County and includes the cities of Baytown, Crosby, Deer Park, Humble, Houston, and La Porte. CHILDREN UNDER 5 DEMOGRAPHICS – HCDE SERVICE AREA In 2018, an estimated 1,312,822 people resided in HCDE’s Service Area, with a population density of 1,547 persons per square mile. Of the people residing in the service area, 23,761 are children under 5 are living below poverty. Of the total population of children under 5 living in HCDE Head Start’s service area, Whites represent 70.7% of the county, followed by Black or African Americans (20.4%), Asians (0.8%), two or more races (4.7%), American Indians and Alaskan Natives (0.4%), Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (0.1%) and some other race (5.0%). The population living below poverty followed a similar distribution. Whites living below poverty 4 2020 Head Start Community Assessment