DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative: Needs ... - Urban Institute

DC Promise Neighborhoods Initiative: Needs Assessment and Segmentation AnalysisParents of Infants, Toddlers, and Early ChildhoodFocus Group Discussion GuideFocus Group Goals To learn about what parents of infants, toddlers, and preschool/prekindergarten students who live in theDCPNI footprint think are the greatest needs, obstacles, and strengths in the following areas:Child care options, preparation for kindergarten, and access to services. The information learned will be used for:o U.S. Department of Education’s required Needs Assessmento Results-Driven Working Group program proposalsYou were asked to attend this focus group because we want to hear how parents of very young children decidewhether to use child care and whether they think their children are getting what they need to be well prepared forkindergarten. We want to hear from you about things that are working for you and your family and things that youneed to make things better.[Go through script describing rules of a focus group.]Let’s start our discussion by introducing ourselves. Please tell us your first name, what neighborhood you live in,how many children you have, and the ages of your children.ACCESS TO CHILD CARE (25 minutes)What child care options are available in the community? Outside of the community?For example, If you have a 2-year-old, what are your options for child care?What about if you have a 4-year-old?Probes: what kind of care: stay at home, family/friends/neighbors, center-based care, licensed homebasedcare?Are there enough child care options in the community? Is there anyone who can’t find child care nearby? Dofamilies feel they need to go outside the community to get care? Why/why not?Probes: infant care in particular?What kinds of things to parents look for when they want good child care for young children?Probes: location, free/subsidized, convenience, hoursAre these kinds of good child care available in the community? Do families think they need to go outsidethe neighborhood?Do families face any obstacles in trying to get access to good child care?Probes: differentiate between infants and older kids, children with special needs, transportation, waitinglistsNeval Thomas and Kenilworth offer Head Start, preschool and prekindergarten classes. What do you think of theseclasses? Do families use them and like them? What are the strengths and weaknesses?Probe: space limitationsPREPARED FOR KINDERGARTEN (25 minutes)119