Availability, Participation, and Interest in Workplace Wellness Programs for Head Start Educators.

Abstract

Background: Head Start (HS) is the largest federally funded early childhood education program in the United States. It prepares children socially, emotionally, and academically and sets the foundation for school readiness and academic success. In 2024, the Head Start Program Performance Standards were updated to provide enhanced support and workforce stability, including improvements in health and wellness. This study assessed the availability, participation, satisfaction, and interest in Workplace Wellness Programs (WWPs) for HS educators. Methods: An electronic survey was sent to nearly 74,000 HS grantees and educators; 2,611 complete surveys were included in the analysis. Descriptive analyses examined the availability, participation, satisfaction, and interest in WWPs, and multivariate regression analyses identified factors associated with WWP participation. Results: Approximately 71% of HS educators reported access to at least one WWP. The most common programs available were health education and promotion (51%), stress management (25%), and healthy lunch and snack options (20%). Participation rates for available programs ranged from 6% to 93%, and interest in unavailable programs ranged from 40% to 93%. Job dissatisfaction was associated with lower odds of participating in any WWP or in health education and wellness programs. Receipt of community food assistance was associated with lower odds of participating in nutrition and stress management programs. Conclusions: There is considerable variability in availability, participation, and interest in WWPs among HS educators. Research is needed to understand if expression of interest would translate into take-up of WWPs, identify strategies to reduce barriers, and increase participation.