The purpose of Big Mama’s Community Outreach, Inc. is to give strategies in our outreach for families experiencing homelessness and lack of food. We identify families who are not being reached and share relevant information with families, within our organization, and with community partners. Collecting, analyzing, using, and sharing data are central to ensuring effective outreach. Our outreach also involves promoting culturally and linguistically responsive activities that raise families’ awareness of:  High-quality early childhood and school-age care and education services. Comprehensive supports for family well-being; Research-based practices to support child development and learning.

Research shows that homelessness and high mobility are associated with higher risks for child health, behavior, and academic challenges than poverty alone. Additional study is needed to understand whether these risks are more closely tied to poverty or lack of stable housing or both. For children who experience homelessness, protective factors such as positive parentchild interactions and early literacy development have been shown to promote resilience and reduce risks. Professionals can partner with families to strengthen these protective factors. Outreach also can be an important part of a larger system of support for families and children experiencing homelessness (Masten, Cutuli, Herbers, Hinz, Obradović, & Wenzel,2014.