2025-2026 Head Start and Early Head Start Family Survey

1. What do you think are the top needs impacting people in your community? Check ALL that apply:

• Food/Shelter
• Access to healthy food
• Help applying for SNAP (food stamps)
• Rental assistance (financial)
• Emergency shelter
• Homelessness prevention services
• Fuel/heating assistance
• Help applying for housing/Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
• First-time home buyer assistance
• Affordable housing
• Healthcare and Wellbeing
• Services for autism/ASD
• Services for developmental and intellectual disabilities
• Mental health services
• Disability resources
• Substance use disorder treatment
• Domestic violence services
• Case management
• Help applying for health insurance/MassHealth
• Help applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Veteran services (e.g. transition services, VA healthcare, VA loans)
• Career and Employment
• Jobs for young people
• Help finding a job that pays well
• Help applying for unemployment benefits
• Training or education to get a job or find a better job
• Age-Specific
• Childcare
• Diapers and/or formula
• After school, weekend, and/or summer care for school-aged children
• Tutoring or academic help
• Senior/elder services
• General Needs
• Interpreter services or translator
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL/ESL) classes
• Immigration or refugee services (applying for green card, citizenship application, etc.)
• Clothing assistance
• Financial emergencies
• Discrimination issues
• Safer neighborhoods
• Transportation
• Legal Services
• Access to technology/internet
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

2. Are you more than 2 months behind on any household bills?

• Yes
• No
• Unsure

3. Do you currently have at least $500 set aside for emergencies?

• Yes
• No
• I have some money set aside for emergencies but not $500

4. What keeps you or your family from feeling more financially stable? Check ALL that apply:

• I work full-time but my pay doesn’t cover my expenses
• I can only find part-time work
• I can’t find a job
• It takes me more than one hour to get to work
• I need more education or training to get work or better work
• Child care is too expensive and/or interferes with my ability to work
• Child care slots are not available
• Child care is not offered during the hours I work
• I am a single parent
• I don’t have enough money to buy food
• I’ve had a lot of medical expenses that weren’t covered by my insurance
• I can’t get insurance
• I don’t have accessible and reliable transportation
• I can’t find housing that I can afford
• My living expenses (rent/mortgage, utilities, food) have increased in the past year
• I am on a fixed income (Social Security, pension, etc.) and my income is limited
• Increasing my income will make me ineligible for SNAP, heating assistance, or other supports and benefits
• I lost eligibility for benefits (SNAP, MassHealth, DTA. etc.)
• Discrimination
• Someone else controls the money and makes decisions I don’t agree with
• I or a family member am struggling with addiction
• I or a family member am struggling with mental health issues
• I don’t feel safe in my home
• I don’t feel safe in my community
• Not applicable
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

5. To what extent has the federal administration impacted your ability to access public benefits and community resources?

• A lot
• Somewhat
• Very little
• Not at all

6. Which WCAC programs do you access? Check ALL that apply:

• Head Start/Early Head Start
• Job and Education Center
• Resiliency Center (free income tax preparation, financial empowerment coaching, micro loans, community resource clinics)
• Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County
• Heating Assistance Emergency Programs
• Energy Efficiency Upgrade Services

7. Regarding your experience at Head Start/Early Head Start (EHS), please choose to what extent you agree or disagree. Check ONLY 1 answer for each line:

Space Cell	Strongly Agree	Agree Somewhat	Disagree Somewhat	Strongly Disagree	Not Applicable
My child and my family are treated with respect	My child and my family are treated with respect: Strongly Agree	My child and my family are treated with respect: Agree Somewhat	My child and my family are treated with respect: Disagree Somewhat	My child and my family are treated with respect: Strongly Disagree	My child and my family are treated with respect: Not Applicable
Head Start Families: The program hours meet my needs	Head Start Families: The program hours meet my needs: Strongly Agree	Head Start Families: The program hours meet my needs: Agree Somewhat	Head Start Families: The program hours meet my needs: Disagree Somewhat	Head Start Families: The program hours meet my needs: Strongly Disagree	Head Start Families: The program hours meet my needs: Not Applicable
EHS Families: The hours for socializations meet my needs	EHS Families: The hours for socializations meet my needs: Strongly Agree	EHS Families: The hours for socializations meet my needs: Agree Somewhat	EHS Families: The hours for socializations meet my needs: Disagree Somewhat	EHS Families: The hours for socializations meet my needs: Strongly Disagree	EHS Families: The hours for socializations meet my needs: Not Applicable
Staff regularly give me information about my child’s development	Staff regularly give me information about my child’s development: Strongly Agree	Staff regularly give me information about my child’s development: Agree Somewhat	Staff regularly give me information about my child’s development: Disagree Somewhat	Staff regularly give me information about my child’s development: Strongly Disagree	Staff regularly give me information about my child’s development: Not Applicable
I am satisfied with my child’s growth and progress in learning	I am satisfied with my child’s growth and progress in learning: Strongly Agree	I am satisfied with my child’s growth and progress in learning: Agree Somewhat	I am satisfied with my child’s growth and progress in learning: Disagree Somewhat	I am satisfied with my child’s growth and progress in learning: Strongly Disagree	I am satisfied with my child’s growth and progress in learning: Not Applicable
Head Start/EHS supports my child’s disability	Head Start/EHS supports my child’s disability: Strongly Agree	Head Start/EHS supports my child’s disability: Agree Somewhat	Head Start/EHS supports my child’s disability: Disagree Somewhat	Head Start/EHS supports my child’s disability: Strongly Disagree	Head Start/EHS supports my child’s disability: Not Applicable
I have been encouraged to set and accomplish goals for myself	I have been encouraged to set and accomplish goals for myself: Strongly Agree	I have been encouraged to set and accomplish goals for myself: Agree Somewhat	I have been encouraged to set and accomplish goals for myself: Disagree Somewhat	I have been encouraged to set and accomplish goals for myself: Strongly Disagree	I have been encouraged to set and accomplish goals for myself: Not Applicable
Information is provided in my family’s home language.	Information is provided in my family’s home language.: Strongly Agree	Information is provided in my family’s home language.: Agree Somewhat	Information is provided in my family’s home language.: Disagree Somewhat	Information is provided in my family’s home language.: Strongly Disagree	Information is provided in my family’s home language.: Not Applicable
Overall, the Head Start/EHS program has benefitted my family.	Overall, the Head Start/EHS program has benefitted my family.: Strongly Agree	Overall, the Head Start/EHS program has benefitted my family.: Agree Somewhat	Overall, the Head Start/EHS program has benefitted my family.: Disagree Somewhat	Overall, the Head Start/EHS program has benefitted my family.: Strongly Disagree	Overall, the Head Start/EHS program has benefitted my family.: Not Applicable

8. Please rate how helpful the following services are that the Head Start and EHS programs provide:

Space Cell	Very Helpful	Helpful	Somewhat Helpful	Not Helpful	Don't Use the Service
Home Visiting	Home Visiting: Very Helpful	Home Visiting: Helpful	Home Visiting: Somewhat Helpful	Home Visiting: Not Helpful	Home Visiting: Don't Use the Service
Parenting Education	Parenting Education: Very Helpful	Parenting Education: Helpful	Parenting Education: Somewhat Helpful	Parenting Education: Not Helpful	Parenting Education: Don't Use the Service
Socialization Groups	Socialization Groups: Very Helpful	Socialization Groups: Helpful	Socialization Groups: Somewhat Helpful	Socialization Groups: Not Helpful	Socialization Groups: Don't Use the Service
Center-Based Preschool Programs	Center-Based Preschool Programs: Very Helpful	Center-Based Preschool Programs: Helpful	Center-Based Preschool Programs: Somewhat Helpful	Center-Based Preschool Programs: Not Helpful	Center-Based Preschool Programs: Don't Use the Service
Family Services (Case Management & Support)	Family Services (Case Management & Support): Very Helpful	Family Services (Case Management & Support): Helpful	Family Services (Case Management & Support): Somewhat Helpful	Family Services (Case Management & Support): Not Helpful	Family Services (Case Management & Support): Don't Use the Service
Health & Nutrition Services	Health & Nutrition Services: Very Helpful	Health & Nutrition Services: Helpful	Health & Nutrition Services: Somewhat Helpful	Health & Nutrition Services: Not Helpful	Health & Nutrition Services: Don't Use the Service

9. Which reasons make it difficult for you to receive services at WCAC? Check ALL that apply:

• I don’t have any difficulties receiving services at WCAC
• I don’t receive WCAC services
• I am not eligible for WCAC services
• I don’t know who to contact for services
• The hours that WCAC is open are not convenient
• Transportation to get to WCAC
• I live too far away from WCAC
• Finding parking or paying for parking at WCAC
• I don’t have easy access to a bus stop
• WCAC staff don’t speak my language
• WCAC staff are not welcoming
• I care for a child or family member and can’t get away
• Cost of child care or senior care
• Receiving help embarrasses me
• Paperwork
• Classes are full
• I feel unsafe when at WCAC
• I feel unsafe getting to WCAC
• My health
• My disability or physical challenge
• I am afraid that what I will say will not be confidential
• I fear being reported to immigration services
• I fear being reported to DCF
• Access to technology
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

10. How do you feel about Head Start/EHS’s communication with your family?

• Very Satisfied
• Satisfied
• Neutral
• Dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

11. In what program is your child or children enrolled?

• Head Start only
• Early Head Start only
• Both Head Start and EHS

12. Which center does your child attend?

• Southbridge
• Webster
• Leicester
• East Brookfield

13. If it was possible, which program hour options would you like Head Start/EHS to offer? Check ALL that apply:

• Later hours
• Earlier hours
• More services during the summer
• No preference
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

15. Including yourself, what is the current employment status of the adult member(s) in your household? Check ALL that apply:

• Employed full-time
• Employed part-time
• Seasonal job
• Self-employed
• I’m in school
• Unemployed
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

16. If you are not working, what barriers are preventing you from working? Check ALL that apply:

• Chronic illness
• Vaccination requirements
• Fear of losing benefits if I earn more money (for example, qualifying for SNAP, DTA, etc.)
• No reliable transportation
• No work appropriate clothing
• Language barriers
• Wages are too low
• Job training
• Childcare
• Need help finding a job
• No access to a computer to apply for a job
• Not applicable
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

17. Which best describes your household? Check ONLY 1:

• Two-parent
• Foster parents
• Grandparent/Relative raising a child
• Multi-generational
• Single parent
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

19. In which language do you speak most often at home? 

• English
• Spanish
• Arabic
• Vietnamese
• Portuguese
• Haitian Creole
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

21. What is your age?

• Under 18
• 18 - 24
• 25 - 44
• 45 - 64
• 65 or older

22. What is your gender/how do you identify?

• Male
• Female
• Non-binary
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

23. Are you Hispanic/Latinx?

• Yes
• No

24. What is your race? (Please choose only 1)

• Native American or Alaska Native
• Asian
• Black or African American
• African heritage
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• White
• Two or more races
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

25. What is your household's monthly gross income?

• Under $2,000/month (Under $24,000/year)
• $2,000 - $4,000/month ($24,000 - $48,000/year)
• $4,001 - $6,000/month ($48,001 - $72,000/year)
• Over $6,000/month (Over $72,000/year)
• Not sure