Head Start's Impact on Socio-Emotional Outcomes for Children Who Have Experienced Violence or Neighborhood Crime.

Using Head Start Impact Study Data, this study examines Head Start's impact on socio-emotional outcomes for children who have experienced violence or crime. The children were divided into two groups: children who had ever experienced violence or crime and those who had not. The baseline characteristics for children, effects of violence on children, and the moderation effects of Head Start were examined. Child and family risk factors were associated with more experience of violence or crime, which negatively affected their socio-emotional outcomes. This was more prevalent for children living in rural areas and for White children. Enrollment in Head Start was positively associated with children's socio-emotional outcomes, with greater impact on those who had ever experienced violence or crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]