Now we know that poverty, together with poverty-related factors, can inuence a child’s cognitive and social development. Moreover, we know that the timing of poverty episodes plays a huge role (the earlier these episodes occur, the more risky they are). The question is, what can we do about it? Given that we cannot just help all aected families nancially, can we use whatever limited resources are available to reduce the risks associated with poverty experienced in early childhood? This is the task for non-government organizations so they need to be smart, they need to target resources to areas that are most crucial for child development, and the interventions need to be evidence-based.

An example of a programme that aims to reduce the eects of poverty on the development of children on a national level is Head Start. Currently Head Start is a programme of the US Department of Health and Human Services. It was launched in 1965, originally as a summer school programme that taught low-income children in a few weeks the basics so that they could successfully start elementary school. Now it provides comprehensive early education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services.

Review the website of Head Start programme. Explore the range of services it oers.

http://www.nhsa.org/

Can you suggest any additional services that you think might have a positive impact?