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Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) programs uniquely support the frequent transitions, including the transition to kindergarten, that children in migrant and seasonal families may experience. Lessons learned from how MSHS programs support transitions may have implications for MSHS and other federally funded early care and education (ECE) programs. This brief discusses children and families served by MSHS, details on MSHS centers, and transition practices offered in MSHS centers. Data for this brief come from the 2017 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Study dataset. [This report was produced as part of the Head Start to Kindergarten (HS2K) Transitions Project and was produced with the National P-3 Center.]

This issue brief is the first in a series examining timely topics that are relevant to Black families and children in the United States. The series identifies key information and opportunities for consideration by policymakers, researchers, practitioners, philanthropists, and others interested in supporting the progress of Black families and children--and, by extension, the country as a whole. This first brief presents data on the family structure, employment status, and geographic location of Black families with young children in the United States. It also explores contextual factors, such as structural barriers or inequities that have shaped the experiences of these families over time. [For the second brief, "Federal Policies Can Address the Impact of Structural Racism on Black Families' Access to Early Care and Education," see ED614026. For the third issue brief, "Racism and Discrimination Contribute to Housing Instability for Black Families during the Pandemic," see ED614029.]

This brief is the third in a series examining timely topics that are relevant to Black families and children in the United States. It presents recent data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black families' access to stable housing in the United States and, at the local level, in Newark, New Jersey. First, it highlights national findings from a Child Trends analysis of the Household Pulse Survey (HPS). Next, it provides a summary of findings from a study of the housing needs of Black families during the pandemic, in a predominantly Black community in Newark: the South Ward. In this brief, the national data provide context for local data to demonstrate the role of housing discrimination. It also discusses the role of discrimination in housing access and provides recommendations for local policymakers and leaders to promote the equitable distribution of housing supports as increased opportunities to address housing policy issues occur in response to the pandemic. [For the first issue brief, "Family, Economic, and Geographic Characteristics of Black Families with Children," see ED614030. For the second issue brief, "Federal Policies Can Address the Impact of Structural Racism on Black Families' Access to Early Care and Education," see ED614026.]

This issue brief is one in a series examining timely topics that are relevant to Black families and children in the United States. The series identifies key information and opportunities for consideration by policymakers, researchers, practitioners, philanthropists, and others interested in supporting the progress of Black families and children--and, by extension, the country as whole. This second issue brief sets a vision for how the federal government can pursue policy strategies that support access to early care and education for Black families by drawing on historical, contextual, and demographic data related to Black family structure, employment and income, and geography. It first discusses the current and historical role of federal policy in the lives of Black Americans. Next, it reviews the importance of early care and education (ECE), as well as the barriers that Black families face to accessing these important services. It describes two federal programs--Head Start and the Child Care Development Fund--which have the potential to facilitate greater access to ECE for Black children. Finally, it presents recommendations for developing policies and infrastructure to support and protect Black families from the harmful effects of structural racism, while promoting the country's economic recovery from COVID-19. [For the first issue brief, "Family, Economic, and Geographic Characteristics of Black Families with Children," see ED614030. For the third issue brief, "Racism and Discrimination Contribute to Housing Instability for Black Families during the Pandemic," see ED614029.]