Baby face qualitative Evaluation

 
Baby FACE 
Wilder Research, January 2015 
 
Qualitative Evaluation 
17 
We just kept checking back with them. We encouraged them that it was a good program for them 
that would help their child to be school ready for Head Start. 
Three parent educators and one supervisor reported that they did not pursue families that were 
not interested. The door was always open for them to join later. As one supervisor noted, “If you 
are not getting a response, it is difficult to go in and push it again.” 
Aging out 
Four parent educators and five supervisors noted frustrations and challenges of meeting families’ 
needs once the child ages out of the program. In many communities, no other programs serve 
young children and it will be at least two years until they go to kindergarten. 
I can tell you one of the frustrations I have had, that the families voice, is that our program ends at 
age 3, and many families don’t want to go. In our community, not all qualify for a low-cost pre-
school and cannot afford to pay out of pocket. Now their child is transitioned and has to wait until 
kindergarten. That has been a frustration for many of my families. 
I wish we could continue the program and that we would have a similar program that would take 
them from age 3 right into kindergarten. 
Similarly, parents across four sites wished for an ongoing home-based program or a center-based 
program as a continuation of the Baby FACE program.
Maybe a next step, [such as] a small little pre-preschool. 
Make it like a home base and center base. Once they’re 3 they’re off to a building,
and the parents attend. They’re letting go, getting them ready to go to school.
Extend the age [to 5]. I have an issue of trying to get my son into preschool. I’ve tried
and tried and tried and haven’t had any response. It’s frustrating. I do want my child to continue to 
learn, but it’s just sad that there’s nothing out here. 

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