Growing Head Start Success with Farm to Early Care and Education aims to promote understanding amongst Head Start stakeholders (including state level directors and collaboration office staff, directors, teaching staff, health coordinators, trainers and advocates) of how farm to ECE can support achievement of Head Start Program Performance Standards and actively contributes to learning and development benchmarks as outlined in the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. This resource aims to highlight how farm to ECE elements, implemented individually or in combination, may address multiple domains and standards, and provide significant benefits for children, families and communities.

The resource is designed with clear, easy to read tables that directly align Program Performance Standards and the Early Learning Outcomes Framework with specific farm to ECE activities from each of the three core elements of local procurement, gardening and food, agriculture and nutrition education. The resource also offers three profiles of Head Start programs leading the way in addressing performance and learning standards with farm to ECE and their tips for integrating farm to ECE in Head Start.

Help us reach many stakeholder across the country who can benefit from the resource by also downloading our “Outreach Toolkit.” The toolkit includes sample language for social media, newsletter and blog content. Thank you for helping us spread the word!

NFSN is available to provide additional training, customized support and tools for your organization on a consultation basis. To learn more, contact Lacy Stephens, Program Manager, at lacy@farmtoschool.org.