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INCOME AND EARNINGS
HEAD START FAMILY AND CHILD EXPERIENCES SURVEY

Measure: Selected “employment and income,” “community services,” “income and housing,” and “child care” items from the FACES Parent Interviews (Head Start Parent Interview, Kindergarten Parent Interview, First Grade Parent Interview)

Source

The Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) evaluation is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. The project team for FACES 1997 included Westat (prime contractor), Abt Associates, Ellsworth Associates, and the CDM group. The project team for FACES 2000 included Westat (prime contractor), Xtria (formerly Ellsworth Associates), and the CDM group. The project team for FACES 2003 included Westat (prime contractor), Xtria, and the CDM group.

The Head Start Quality Research Consortium (QRC), University of Maryland Department of Family Studies developed the “employment and income” items. The Head Start QRC and the FACES research team developed the “community services” items. The FACES Research team developed the “income and housing” items. The “child care” items were developed by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development study of early child care [See Emlen, A. (1998). From a parent’s point of view: Flexibility, income, and quality of child care. Background paper for New Perspectives on Child Care Quality Conference, SEED 2000 Consortium of Federal Agencies, Bethesda, MD].

In addition to FACES, some of these items and variations of the items were also used by the following EDCP evaluations and surveys: National Head Start Impact Study (Fall 2002 Parent Interview, Spring 2003 Parent Interview).

Population Assessed

Each cohort of FACES employs a nationally representative sample of Head Start programs, centers, classrooms, children, and parents. Each sample is stratified by three variables: region of the country (northeast, Midwest, south, or west); urbanicity (urban versus rural); and percentage of minority families in the program (50 percent or more versus less than 50 percent). Data collection methods included child assessments, parent interviews, teacher reports, staff interviews, and classroom observations. Since its inception, FACES has involved an initial field-test sample and three nationally representative cohorts: FACES 1997, FACES 2000, and FACES 2003.

FACES 1997 field test. FACES was field tested in spring 1997 with 2,400 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds and their parents in a nationally stratified random sample of 40 Head Start programs. These children were followed up in spring 1998 when the children were in kindergarten.

FACES 1997. Data from the initial cohort for the main study of FACES 1997 was first collected in fall 1997 on 3,200 children and families from the same 40 Head Start programs employed in the field test. Data were collected on 1,200 3-year-olds new to Head Start; 1,280 4- and 5-year-olds new to Head Start; and 720 4- and 5-year-olds who were in the field-test study and returning for another year of Head Start. Data on these children were also collected in spring 1998 (spring of the Head Start year), spring 1999 (spring of the kindergarten year or spring of the Head Start year for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997), spring 2000 (spring of the first-grade year or spring of kindergarten for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997), and spring 2001 (spring of first-grade year for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997).

FACES 1997 also included a validation substudy or embedded case study of 120 randomly selected families from the larger FACES sample. (NB. The embedded case study was not a part of FACES 2000 or FACES 2003). Data collection included in-person parent interviews, home and neighborhood observations, monthly telephone contacts for demographic updates, and community agency interviews regarding the amount and overall nature of collaboration between the agency and the Head Start program.

FACES 2000. A new national cohort of FACES was launched in fall 2000 (FACES 2000). Beginning in fall 2000, data from 2,800 children and families in a new nationally stratified random sample of 43 Head Start programs were collected to ascertain what progress was made in improving program performance. Data were collected in fall 2000, spring 2001, spring 2002 (when children were in kindergarten or in a second year of Head Start), and spring 2003 (when the children who were 3 years old in fall 2000 were in kindergarten).

FACES 2003. Data on a third national cohort (FACES 2003) were collected in fall 2003. Data from 2,700 children and families in a new nationally stratified random sample of 66 programs were collected in fall 2003 and will be collected in spring 2004, spring 2005 (when children are in kindergarten or in a second year of Head Start), and spring 2006 (when the children who were 3 years old in fall 2000 are in kindergarten).

Each cohort of FACES has approximately equal numbers of girls and boys and representative samples of white, African American, Hispanic, and children of other races (see exhibits 1 and 2).

Exhibit 1. Original Faces Sample (FACES 1997)

	Weighted Percentages
	All (n=3, 120)	Age 3 (n=1, 129)	Age 4 (n=1, 991)
Gender
Male	50.4	48.7	51.2
Female	49.6	51.4	48.8
Race/Ethnicity
African American	28.8	34.7	26.1
White	30.7	29.0	31.4
Hispanic/Latino	27.6	22.5	30.0
Native American	1.9	2.3	1.7
Asian/Pacific Islander	1.3	1.3	1.3
Other	8.8	8.7	8.6

Exhibit 2. FACES 2000 Sample

	African American		White		Hispanic		Other		Total
	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
Male	343	13.8	471	19.0	363	14.6	65	2.6	1242	50.1
Female	383	15.4	415	16.7	371	14.9	68	2.7	1237	49.9
Total	726	29.3	886	35.7	734	29.6	133	5.4	2479	100

Periodicity

In the initial field test for FACES, Parent Interviews were collected in spring 1997 and again in a spring 1998 follow-up when the children were in kindergarten.

Parent Interview data from the initial cohort for the main study of FACES1997 were first collected in fall 1997 and spring 1998 (spring of the Head Start year). Follow-up parent interviews were conducted in spring 1999 (spring of the kindergarten year or spring of the Head Start year for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997), spring 2000 (spring of the first-grade year or spring of kindergarten for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997), and spring 2001 (spring of the first-grade year for those who were 3 years old in fall 1997).

For FACES 2000, Parent Interview data were collected in fall 2000, spring 2001, spring 2002 (when children were in kindergarten or in a second year of Head Start), and spring 2003 (when the children who were 3 years old in fall 2000 were in kindergarten).

For the FACES 2003 cohort, Parent Interview data were collected in fall 2003, spring 2004, spring 2005 (when children are in kindergarten or in a second year of Head Start), and spring 2006 (when the children who were 3 years old in fall 2003 are in kindergarten).

Components

The majority of questions about income and earnings come from four sections within the parent interviews: employment and income, community services, income and housing, and child care. The employment and income section asks about sources of income for the household. Parents are asked about their current jobs, job hunting, the number of adults that contribute to household income, their health insurance, other sources of income or support (such as TANF, unemployment insurance, food stamps, energy assistance—but not the actual dollar amount), and requirements for receiving welfare or public assistance (e.g., attend job training, get a job). Parents are also asked about the total income for last month and their current housing situation, including whether they live in public/subsidized housing. The community services sections asks whether the household has needed services since the child was born and, if so, whether the household received those services. Services could include things such as income assistance (e.g., welfare, SSI, food stamps, help with housing), employment assistance (e.g., job training, education assistance, transportation to job), health care (e.g., MEDICAID, medical or dental care, mental health services); and social services (e.g., legal aid, helping solving other family problems). The child care section asks one question that pertains to income and earnings: Who pays for child care (e.g., self, government, employer, etc.).

The section on income and earnings asks several income- and earnings-related questions, such as the sources of income for the household including the number of adults who contribute to the household income; health insurance for the child other than Medicaid; reception of household income/support in the past 6 months (e.g., welfare, TANF, food stamps, WIC, payments for foster care); requirements for receiving public assistance (e.g., job training, getting a job); total income for the last month before taxes and other deductions; and the current housing situation, including whether they own, rent, or live in subsidized housing. Expenditures and other reductions, such as taxes, are not addressed.

Procedures for Administration

Head Start Parent Interview: The parent or the primary caregiver of the study child completes the interview in a one-on-one setting, typically the Head Start center, where the interviewer asks questions and writes the respondent’s answers. The complete Head Start parent interview takes about 60 minutes.

Kindergarten Parent Interview: The parent or the primary caregiver of the study child completes the interview in a one-on-one setting either in-person or by telephone. The complete kindergarten parent interview takes about 30 minutes.

First Grade Parent Interview: The parent or the primary caregiver of the study child completes the interview in a one-on-one setting either in-person or by telephone. The complete kindergarten parent interview takes about 30 minutes.

Psychometrics/Data Quality

Psychometric information is not yet available.

Languages Available

The parent interviews can be administered in English and Spanish. For respondents who speak a language other than English or Spanish, an interpreter is used (if possible).

Items Included

Note: Most of the following items are from the FACES 2003 parent interviews. These items have been included in previous cohorts with minor differences/additions/changes.

Community Service items are not part of the FACES 2003 parent interview; therefore, the items from the FACES 1997 instrument are presented here. The full parent interview from the original cohort, FACES 1997, is available at, http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html

Employment and Income Items:

Now, I would like to ask you some questions about the sources of income for your household. As I said earlier, this information will remain confidential and will not be reported to any agency or Head Start.

1. Do you have any earnings from a job or jobs, including self-employment?
2. How many jobs do you have currently?
3. What do you do in (this job/the first job/the second job/the third job)?
4. Is this job full-time or 30 or more hours per week; part-time or less than 30 hours per week; or seasonal or occasional during certain times of the year?
   
   

   	Job Descriptions	Job Status
   		Seasonal	Full-time	Part-time
   1.
   2.
   3.

   
   
5. In how many of the last twelve months have you worked?
6. Are you currently looking for a job?
7. Not including yourself, how many other adults contribute to your household income?
8. Is [CHILD] covered by health insurance other than Medicaid through (your job) or the job of another employed adult?
9. Is [CHILD] covered by Medicaid, CHIP, or a state health insurance program?
10. Did you receive any of the following other sources of household income or support in the past six months?
    a. Welfare, TANF, or general assistance
    b. Unemployment insurance
    c. Food Stamps
    d. WIC — Special supplemental food program for Women, Infants, and Children
    e. Child support
    f. SSI or Social Security Retirement, Disability, or Survivor’s benefits
    g. Payments for providing foster care
    h. Energy assistance

    IF H2 a, c, OR d WERE ANSWERED YES, THEN ASK H3. OTHERWISE, GO TO H4.

11. In some states people who receive different types of public assistance are being required to do certain things such as take courses, get job training, or find a job. Are you or is someone else in the household required to…
    a. Attend job training?
    b. Attend school or a GED class?
    c. Get a job?
    d. Do something else? (Specify)

12. What was [(your total income/the combined total income of (you and your husband/wife)] in the past calendar year — that is, 2002 — including salaries or other earnings, interest, retirement, and so on? (COMBINED) TOTAL INCOME $ __ __ __, (GO TO 14)
    OR REFUSED (GO TO 14) OR DON’T KNOW (GO TO 13)
13. Was it $25,000 or less, (READ SET 1) OR More than $25,000? (READ SET 2)

[SET 1] Was it…
$5,000 or less, 01
$5,000 to $10,000, 02
$10,001 to $15,000, 03
$15,001 to $20,000, or 04
$20,001 to $25,000? 05

[SET 2] Was it…
$25,001 to $30,000, 06
$30,001 to $35,000, 07
$35,001 to $40,000, 08
$40,001 to $50,000, 09
$50,001 to $75,000, or 10
More than $75,000? 11

Community Services Items (From FACES 1997 Parent Interview):
Now I have some questions about your household’s experiences with various community agencies. I would like to know about services your household has needed since CHILD was born.

	Since CHILD was born, have you or anyone in your household needed...		IF YES IN 12: Have you received it?		IF YES IN I3: Did Heas Start help in any way? Why not? or How? 01=No, we were already receiving 02=No, Head Start did not help 03=No, we didn't need their help 04=Yes, referred to service 05=Yes, provided service directly
	No	Yes	No	Yes
INCOME ASSISTANCE
a. Income assistance-like welfare, SSI, unemployment insurance
b. Food and nutrition assistance-like food stamps or WIC
c. Help with housing
d. Help with utilities (running water, hot water, heat, telephone service)
EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
e. Job training and employment assistance
f. Education assistance-for example, GED, college, learning to read, ESL
g. Help getting transportation to a job or training
h. Child care for CHILD before or after the Head Start day
i. Child care for other children in household
HEALTHCARE
j. MEDICAID/local name for MEDICAID
k. Medical or dental care for CHILD
l. Medical or dental care for adults
m. Alcohol or drug abuse treatment or counseling
n. Mental health services
SOCIAL SERVICES
o. Legal aid
p. Help dealing with family violence
q. Help in solving other family problems

Income and Housing Items:
Now, I would like to ask you some questions about the sources of income for your household. This information will remain confidential.

1. Including yourself, how many adults contribute to your household income?
2. Does your family have health insurance other than Medicaid through (your job) or the job of another employed adult in the household?
   YES
   NO
   REFUSED
   DON’T KNOW
3. Did you receive any of the following other sources of household income or support in
   the past six months?
   a. Welfare, TANF, or general assistance
   b. Unemployment insurance
   c. Food stamps
   d. WIC—Special supplemental food program for Women, Infants, and Children
   e. Child support
   f. SSI or Social Security Retirement, Disability, or Survivor’s Benefits
   g. Payments for providing foster care
   IF 3 a, c, OR d WERE ANSWERED YES, THEN ASK 4. OTHERWISE, GO TO 5.
4. In some states people who receive different types of public assistance are being
   required to do certain things such as take courses, get job training, or find a job. Are
   you or is someone else in the household required to…
   a. Attend job training?
   b. Attend school or a GED class?
   c. Get a job?
   d. Do something else? (please specify)
5. Thinking about all of the sources of income you just told me about, what was the total
   income for your household last month before taxes and other deductions? Your best
   guess would be fine.
   REFUSED
   DON’T KNOW
6. Would you say it was…
   a. Less than $250
   b. Between $251 and $500
   c. Between $501 and $1000
   d. Between $1001 and $1500
   e. Between $1501 and $2000
   f. Between $2001 and $2500 or
   g. Over $2500
   h. REFUSED
   i. DON’T KNOW
   

Our next questions are about housing.

1. 1. Do you now live in…
   a. A house, apartment, or trailer of your own
   b. A house, apartment, or trailer that you share with another family
   c. Transitional housing (apartment) or a homeless shelter
   d. Or someplace else?
2. How many times have you moved in the last 6 months?
3. Do you currently own your own home or apartment, pay rent, or live in public or subsidized housing?
   Owns or is buying home or apartment
   Rents (without public assistance)
   Public or subsidized housing
   Some other arrangement

Child Care Items:
Now let’s talk about any child care arrangements that you use for CHILD right now. Child care does not include time in Head Start class, but may include separate child care at the Head Start center before or after class. This does not include babysitting used for social activities such as going out in the evening.

1. Is CHILD in child care before or after Head Start?
2. In how many different child care arrangements does CHILD spend time each week?
3. Where is that care provided?
   a. At CHILD’s home by a relative
   b. At CHILD’s home by a non-relative
   c. In a relative’s home
   d. In a friend’s or neighbor’s home
   e. Family day care home
   f. Other child care center/child development program
   g. At Head Start (not including time in class)
   h. Other (please specify)
4. How many hours a week is this care used?
5. Who pays for this child care?
   a. Do you pay for it yourself?
   b. Does a government agency pay?
   c. Does an employer pay?
   d. Does someone else pay?
   e. Do you trade child care with someone else?
   f. Is it free or no charge? (PROBE for other categories)
   g. Other (please specify)

References and Source Documents

The parent interviews are available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html

A number of FACES reports are available on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Web site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html

The reports include the following:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2003, June). Head Start FACES (2000): A whole child perspective on program performance, fourth progress report. Washington, DC: Author.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002, January). A descriptive study of Head Start families: FACES technical report I. Washington, DC: Author.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001, January). Head Start FACES: Reaching out to families: Head Start recruitment and enrollment practices. Washington, DC: Author.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2001, January). Head Start FACES (1997): Longitudinal findings on program performance, third progress report. Washington, DC:
Author.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000, June). FACES findings: New research on Head Start program quality and outcomes. Washington, DC: Author.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1998, June). Head Start FACES (Pilot): Program performance measures, second progress report. Washington, DC: Author.

Information about FACES presentations and papers is available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/index.html

More information about the FACES validation substudy is available in the following paper: Vaden-Kiernan, M., D’Elio, M. A., & Sprague, K. (n.d.). The FACES embedded case study: Documenting the methodology and early findings. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hs/faces/pres_papers/embedded_casestdy/embedded.pdf

 

 

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