The NHSA

Partnerships play a central role in the Head Start model. NHSA annual Parent Conference and Family Engagement Institutes is the only national event that focuses on how communities, parents, families, and Head Start program staff can best partner to promote both parent and family engagement and children’s learning and development.

Our mission is to coalesce, inspire, and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education.

The National Head Start Association is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in life. The opportunities offered by Head Start lead to healthier, empowered children and families, and stronger, more vibrant communities. NHSA is the voice for more than 1 million children, 200,000 staff and 1,600 Head Start grantees in the United States.

Since 1974, NHSA has worked diligently for policy changes that ensure all at-risk children have access to the Head Start model of support for the whole child, the family and the community.

NHSA offers an impressive portfolio of professional development services and programs for the entire early childhood community. These include the annual National Head Start Conference, the largest national event devoted to the Early Head Start and Head Start community, and the National Parent Conference, the only national event devoted to parents and families.