Appendix K.2_AIAN FACES PARENT TEACHER FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About the American Indian and Alaska Native head start Family and Child Experiences Survey

(AI/AN FACES)
for Teachers and Parents

1. What is AI/AN FACES about?

The AI/AN Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (AI/AN FACES) is the first national study of children and families served by Head Start programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. AI/AN FACES will help us learn more about children and families in tribal Head Start programs and the services Head Start provides to them. It will allow Head Start to better serve the needs of children and families attending programs in tribal communities.

2. Who is conducting the study?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, sponsors the study. The study is being conducted by Mathematica Policy Research, a respected, independent research organization whose studies of Head Start and other early childhood and education programs have been used to improve services to children and families for more than 40 years. Mathematica is working with tribal Head Start directors, Office of Head Start leadership, and child development researchers to make sure that the study meets the needs of AI/AN Head Start programs.

3. When will the study take place?

The study begins in fall 2015 and ends in spring 2017.

4. Who will collect data for the study?

This fall, a team of four Mathematica data collectors will visit your Head Start center for 2-3 days in order to do one-on-one assessments with children who were randomly picked to be part of the study and whose parents have given permission for them to be in the study. Mathematica data collectors will come back in spring 2016 to do assessments with the same group of children and to observe their classrooms. The spring visit will last about 3 days. In spring 2017, Mathematica data collectors will come back a third time to observe some of your program’s classrooms. No child assessments will be conducted in spring 2017.

5. What is a FACES child assessment?

Children whose parents gave permission will meet one-on-one with one of the Mathematica data collectors. Mathematica data collectors have been trained to work with young children and to do assessments of their early math, language, and reading skills. Children will be asked to look at pictures, copy drawings, and answer some simple math questions. For example, children are asked to name the letters of the alphabet and the sounds that go along with those letters, to point to pictures that go along with words they hear, and to name numbers and add two numbers or objects. Their height and weight will also be recorded.

6. Will children get anything for taking part in the FACES child assessment?

Yes, they will receive a children’s book for taking part.

7. Where will the FACES child assessment be done?

To not disrupt classroom activities, the child activities will take place outside the classroom in a space provided to us by the center director. The FACES child assessment will be done within eye and earshot of Head Start center staff.

8. How long does a FACES child assessment take?

Each FACES child assessment will take about 45 minutes. It will take a little longer for some children and less time for others. Children will be given breaks when needed.

9. Will children’s FACES assessment results be shared with parents, teachers, or their programs?

No. Individual children’s assessment results will not be shared. We will only report results for groups of children across all tribal Head Start programs. No individuals or programs will ever be identified in the reporting of results.

10. Will taking part in the study affect the Head Start services the child and family receive?

No. Taking part in the AI/AN FACES study, or declining to participate will not affect any Head Start services the child or family receives.

11. How did you pick classrooms and children for the study?

Classrooms were randomly picked from all classrooms in this Head Start center. Children in those classrooms were then randomly picked and, along with their parents, were invited to be in the study. Only children whose parents gave permission are in the study.

12. What will you ask teachers to do?

In fall 2015 and spring 2016, we will ask teachers who have AI/AN FACES children in their classrooms to fill out a short survey. This survey will ask questions about the behavior and skills of each AI/AN FACES child. It will also ask if a child has been diagnosed with a disability by a professional, what services or Individualized Education Plans are in place, or if there are any special concerns the teacher has about each AI/AN FACES child. Each survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Teachers can fill out the surveys online or on paper. In spring 2016 and spring 2017, we will also ask teachers to fill out a survey about their training and background, classroom activities, and their Head Start program. The survey will take about 30 minutes. In the spring of 2016 and spring 2017, we will observe the teacher’s classroom for about four hours to get an idea of classroom activities and children’s interactions with the teacher and each other.

13. What will you ask parents to do?

We will ask parents to fill out a survey in fall 2015 and spring 2016. Parents may fill out the survey online or by phone. Each will last about 30 minutes. In both the fall and spring, parents will receive a $25 gift card after they finish the survey.

14. Do parents need to do anything besides signing the consent?

On the consent forms, parents should include their email address, phone number and mailing address so we can contact them about filling out the parent survey.

15. Do parents need to be there for the FACES child assessment?

No, parents do not need to be there. The FACES child assessments will be done during the Head Start day.

16. Is there a phone number parents and teachers can call if they have questions?

Parents can call 844-807-6007 to ask questions. Teachers can call 855-714-8193 to ask questions.

17. How will my privacy be protected?

Mathematica agrees to protect the privacy of all study participants. All staff working on the study are required to sign a privacy agreement. The importance of protecting the privacy of each participant and the consequences of violating the agreement, including dismissal from the study, is part of the agreement and an important part of all study staff trainings. All information collected as part of AI/AN FACES will be kept private unless we learn that a child has been hurt or is in danger or you tell us that you plan to seriously hurt yourself or someone else – then by law, we must make a report to the appropriate legal authorities.

To help us protect the privacy of study participants, we have obtained a Certificate of Confidentiality from the National Institutes of Health. With this Certificate, the researchers cannot be forced to disclose information that may identify any study participants, even by a court subpoena, in any federal, state, or local civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceedings. The researchers will use the Certificate to resist any demands for information that would identify study participants, with one exception. The Certificate of Confidentiality does not prevent the AI/AN FACES study team from disclosing information that would identify participants in the research project if participants were to tell the researchers or interviewers anything that suggests they are very likely to harm themselves, that they are planning to hurt another person or child, or that someone is likely to harm them.

The Certificate of Confidentiality does not prevent study participants from voluntarily releasing information about themselves or their involvement in this study. If an insurer, employer, or other person obtains a study participant’s written consent to receive research information, then the researchers may not use the Certificate to withhold that information. Further, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) may ask for data for an audit or evaluation. If they do, we will need to provide it. However, only DHHS staff involved in the review will see it.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: The referenced collection of information is voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 0970-0151 and it expires XX/XX/XXXX. If you have comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: Mathematica Policy Research, 1100 1st Street, NE, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20002, Attention: Jerry West.