Expanding Access to Early Head Start: State Initiatives for Infants and Toddlers at Risk (New Hampshire)

This joint report by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP draws on research on state efforts to expand and enhance access to Early Head Start (EHS) services for infants, toddlers, and their families. The federal EHS program was created to help minimize the disparities caused by poverty by supporting the healthy development of expectant mothers and low-income infants and toddlers in the context of their families and communities. However, less than 4 percent of babies and toddlers who are eligible for Early Head Start are currently being served. This report describes the diverse strategies states are using to build upon Early Head Start and offers recommendations for states interested in expanding this proven program. It builds on a previous paper, Building on the Promise: State Initiatives to Expand Access to Early Head Start for Young Children and their Families, released by the two organizations in 2008.

Starting in 2001 and modified in 2011, New Hampshire has extended the day/year of existing Early Head Start services through policies to ease blending funds. Starting in 2001 and modified in 2011, New Hampshire began supporting EHS-child care partnerships to deliver EHS and improve the quality of care through policies to ease blending funds.

In 2014 New Hampshire received new funding for EHS expansion and EHS-CC Partnerships. The projected number of children to be served with this funding was 56.

In 2014 Connecticut had the following slots funded: Federally-Funded Early Head Start slots totaled 319 Early Head Start Home Visiting Office of Head Start-Funded slots totaled 206

For further information see the following pages in Expanding Access to Early Head Start: Page 7: Text Box. State Policies Ease Partnership: New Hampshire Memorandum of Agreement Page 10: Table. Funding Mechanisms for State EHS Initiatives Page 15: APPENDIX. Initiatives that extend the day or year if existing services Page 18: APPENDIX. Initiatives that support partnerships between EHS and center-based or family child care providers to improve the quality of care Read the full report at www.zerotothree.org/expandingehs.

Learn more about 2014 New Hampshire EHS updates at https://www.nhsa.org/files/resources/New_Hampshire_fact_sheet.pdf

Updated January 2016