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Services to Pregnant Women Participating in Early Head Start
ACF-IM-HS-09-04

ACF
Administration for Children and Families

U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

1. Log No. ACF-IM-HS-09-04

2. Issuance Date: 07/22/2009

3. Originating Office: Office of Head Start

4. Key Words: Services to Pregnant Women

 

NOTE: This IM supersedes ACYF-IM-HS-02-04

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM [See Attachment at the bottom]

TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Services to Pregnant Women Participating in Early Head Start

INFORMATION:

The purpose of this Information Memorandum is to address the Head Start Program Performance Standards for services to pregnant women [45 CFR 1304. 40(c)] in Early Head Start programs and to describe best practices that will help support the implementation of these standards.

BACKGROUND:

Early Head Start (EHS) serves pregnant women and their families in a variety of service delivery models and in diverse settings around the nation. This memorandum was developed in response to questions raised by EHS programs that are designing and delivering these services. While family and community needs are different in every program, there are elements of high-quality services that are consistent across programs. This memorandum discusses:

  • the importance of the initial planning process, using the data from the Community Assessment;
  • the importance of establishing strong community partners to serve the needs of pregnant women; 
  • the development of management systems to support implementation of quality services;
  • recruitment, enrollment and eligibility; and
  • clarification on how services are delivered to pregnant women and their families.

This memorandum also describes the requirements of the Head Start Program Performance Standards, community collaborations and the importance of coordinating services, as well as the vital role of the Health Services Advisory Committee.

Please direct any questions on this issuance to your OHS Regional Office.

/ Patricia E. Brown /

Patricia E. Brown
Acting Director
Office of Head Start

Attachment:
     Services to Pregnant Women Participating in Early Head Start [PDF, 57KB]

See PDF Version:
     Services to Pregnant Women Participating in Early Head Start [PDF, 46KB]

Services to Pregnant Women Participating in Early Head Start. ACF-IM-HS-09-04. HHS/ACF/OHS. 2009. English.

This is a Historical Document.

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