Head Start and the Social Safety Net

Head Start is a federally funded early learning operation that serves about 750,000 children every year at approximately 1,600 programs across the country. In the past month, the Trump administration has laid off several Head Start staff, and a leaked draft of an early budget request had the program slated for elimination. (A public budget document last week did not mention cuts or increases to Head Start).

Sacha Klein, a professor and researcher at Michigan State University’s School of Social Work, joined the podcast to talk about the nexus between Head Start and the social safety net, including her research on its connection to child welfare. 

We also chat with the hosts of Young and Autonomous, the newest podcast on SafeCamp Audio. This is a four-episode podcast by young parents with lived experience in foster care where hosts engage in meaningful conversations with peers, sex educators, and researchers about sexual and reproductive health information, rights, services, and resources.

Sacha Klein is an associate professor at the Michigan State University School of Social Work. She is an expert on child welfare, child maltreatment prevention, and the effects of early care and education on parenting.

Reading Room

Trump Plan to Dismantle Head Start Is Illegal, Lawsuit Argues
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/29/us/politics/trump-head-start-lawsuit-aclu.html

I was a low-income student who attended Head Start. I'm now an educator with a master's degree and owe all my success to the federal program.
https://www.businessinsider.com/head-start-low-income-student-owe-success-program-2025-4

Imprint Weekly Podcast: The Impact of Paid Family Leave on Child Maltreatment
https://imprintnews.org/podcast/impact-paid-family-leave-child-maltreatment

Young & Autonomous Podcast

https://safecampaudio.org/show/young-and-autonomous/