2007 

Head Start is a comprehensive service delivery program, serving low-income children
between the ages of three and five years old (Lopez, Tarullo, Forness, & Boyce, 2000).
Staff in Head Start programs work with the nation’s poorest children, often minority,who
face serious disadvantages and risk factors such as substance abuse, depression, divorce, homelessness, and community and domestic violence. Growing up in poverty, Head Start children are at high risk for academic, behavioral, emotional, and psychiatric difficulties, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the socio-emotional development and adjustment of young children (Lopez et al., 2000; Jellinek, Bishop-Josef, Murphy, & Zigler, 2005).

Head Start programs are required to screen for mental health concerns so that identification and intervention can take place as early as possible (Jellinek et al., 2005). However, many mental health consultants who assist in this screening assess children at the beginning of the year, and often times do not follow up unless requested by Head Start staff (Jellinek et al., 2005). Many Head Start programs have limited psychological and socio-emotional support components. This is troubling given that the rate of mental health problems, including moderate to severe psychosocial impairment, among Head Start children has been estimated to be between 16-29% (Jellinek et al., 2005). Thus, “…ignoring or minimizing this aspect of the [Head Start] program fails to meet the needs of a substantial number of children” (Jellinek et al., 2005).