Since its inception, the Office of Head Start has understood that the family is at the center of a child’s development and learning. The updated Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework is the latest example of Head Start’s leadership in supporting stable, connected, nurturing family environments in which children can thrive. In alignment with this leadership, LENA has a proven track record of emphasizing that parents and caregivers have the power to support children in reaching their potential.

To highlight this alignment, we’re excited to publish a new report laying out the ways our evidenced-based programs support key aspects of the Framework. LENA Start^® and LENA Home™ are parent-facing programs, while LENA Grow™ is an early childhood teacher-facing program. All three programs leverage LENA’s patented “talk pedometer” technology to provide objective feedback on adult-child interactions coupled with curricula that are strengths based and designed to engage and excite families and teachers as they support children in reaching their potential.

Click here to download our report detailing LENA’s alignment to the Head Start PFCE Framework:

Across the country, we’re partnering with Head Start programs to fuel the family engagement outcomes of the Framework. For example, LENA’s partnership with Porter Leath’s Early Head Start programs in Memphis, Tenn., has resulted in increased positive parent-child relationships measured through the Parent Perception and Actions Survey, demonstrating more than a 70 percent increase in community engagement by parents.

The science is clear and has only strengthened in recent years. That is, the first three years of life present a key window of opportunity for all children. School readiness and, more importantly, the path to opportunity begin at birth. Both factors are heavily influenced by the amount of interactive talk children experience in their early years, whether it be with a parent, primary caregiver, or child care teacher.

The growing scientific evidence is inspiring communities around the country to develop, and invest in, strategies to make a difference. LENA’s programs leverage this evidence and provide ready-to-implement programs designed to build responsive skills and capacity with parents and teachers. The nature of responsive caregiving, coupled with the integration of LENA and Head Start programming, can and does influence most aspects of family engagement and the PFCE Framework.

Let’s set up a time to talk about bringing LENA to your Head Start program!

Jess Simmons

Jessica Simmons is the former Chief Growth Officer at LENA and is thrilled to work with organizations across the country to support parents, children, educators, and communities in closing opportunity gaps.