Data Dictionary – Head Start Map

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): HHS oversees all federal agencies, programs, and funding related to health and social services, including the Office of Head Start.
• Head Start (HS): Head Start is a federal program that delivers comprehensive early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services to families with children birth to age 5  who are experiencing poverty
• Head Start Preschool: Head Start programs that specifically serve children ages 3 to 5.
• Early Head Start (EHS): EHS is a federally funded program that provides intensive, comprehensive child development and family support services to infants and toddlers under age 3, pregnant women, and their families experiencing poverty.
• American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAIN): AIAN Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve children ages five and under both in American Indian and Alaska Native and non-tribal programs.
• Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS): MSHS Head Start programs serve children age 5 and under who live in families working as seasonal or migrant farm workers.
• Grants: A funding mechanism that HHS uses to support the delivery of Head Start. Grants can be awarded to public and private agencies, local entities, tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and schools. One Head Start grant usually funds multiple program sites. 
• Programs: Federally funded comprehensive early learning and care services administered by a Head Start grantee. Head Start programs may operate one or multiple individual sites. There are four primary types of Head Start programs: Head Start Preschool, Early Head Start, AIAN Head Start, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. 
• Site: The physical location where a program delivers services to children and families.
• Slot: A space available for a child to enroll in a Head Start program.
• Funding: The total dollar amount from grants awarded to local entities by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Head Start Program Settings

• Center-Based: Services located in child development centers.
• Family Child Care: Services located in a family-based child care setting.
• Home-Based: Services delivered in a family’s own home, along with planned group socialization activities.
• Locally Designed: Services delivered through a combination of settings, responding to the needs of the community.

Population Density Definitions

The categories for population density data were created by the Congressional District Health Dashboard, a project of NYU Langone Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. More information on their methodology can be found on their website. 

• Pure Urban: Almost entirely dense urban neighborhoods.
• Urban-Suburban Mix: A mix of urban areas and inner-ring suburbs.
• Dense Suburban: Predominantly suburban, denser suburbs.
• Sparse Suburban: Predominantly suburban, with some exurb-style neighborhoods.
• Exurb: Community located on the outermost part of a metropolitan area, beyond typical suburbs, with lower housing density. 
• Rural-Suburban Mix: A mix of suburban and rural populations.
• Pure Rural: Very rural areas with some small cities and suburban-style areas.