3.3.1 The 8th National HeadStart Research Conference
Creating Connections: Linking Policy, Practice and Research across Early Childhood Development, Care and Education—2008

HSRC9 emphasized ways that practitioners, researchers, administrators, and policymakers involved in Head Start, early childhood, childcare, and administration programs can work together to build research-to-practice connections that promote positive development in young children. The conference also addressed competencies for early childhood educators, development of language and literacy in second-language learners, the influence of research on policies affecting children, and emotion regulation and learning.

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3.3.2 The 7th National HeadStart Research Conference
Serving Children Through Partnership and Collaboration—2006

HSRC8 reaffirmed the importance of partnerships and collaborations to serve children in an era of standards and accountability. Within this theme, the conference emphasized social and cultural context and the multiple competencies that children must master to succeed in school and later life. The conference emphasized research that leads to evidence-based practice, measurable outcomes, and innovative implementation strategies. In addition to student programming initiated in Conference 7, highlighted poster sessions of ACF graduate student grantees were presented.

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3.3.3 The 6th National HeadStart Research Conference
Head Start's 7th National Research Conference—2004

HSRC 7 emphasized research which provided converging evidence of strategies to enhance competencies and cross-developmental domains. Evidence-based programs and practices that reexamined traditional early childhood approaches were highlighted. Emphasis on the student-mentor relationship was provided through expanded student programming.

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3.3.4 The 5th National HeadStart Research Conference
The First Eight Years: Pathways to the Future—2002

This conference identified and disseminated early childhood research conducted with young children in preschools and early grades of elementary school. Continued fostering partnerships among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Focused on prenatal development through age 8, and examined how development during a child's early years affects a child's future success and well-being.

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3.3.5 The 4th National HeadStart Research Conference
Developmental and Contextual Transitions of Children and Families—2000

Head Start’s 35th year of promoting the growth and development of disadvantaged children. Focused on the continuity within and between the developmental and the contextual transitions affecting the health and well-being of young children. New initiatives encouraged students to submit research and participate in the conference.

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3.3.6 The 3rd National HeadStart Research Conference
Children and Families in an Era of Rapid Change—1998

Provided an opportunity for interaction among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Translated the research knowledge base into practical applications and helped increase the number of program initiatives which are evaluated through research.

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3.3.7 The 2nd National HeadStart Research Conference
Making a Difference for Children, Families, and Communities—1996

Provided an opportunity for interaction among researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. Translated the research knowledge base into practical applications and helped increase the number of program initiatives which are evaluated through research.

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3.3.8 The 1st National HeadStart Research Conference
Implications for Serving Families With Young Children—1994

Continued to foster the relationship between academia and practitioners involved in early interventions. Those from psychology, education, sociology, anthropology, pediatrics, medicine, psychiatry, social work, nursing, public health, law, epidemiology, and economics were represented. Special emphasis was placed on the strength of families, and the need for increased cooperation among researchers, practitioners, and policy makers.

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3.3.9 New Directions in Child and Family Research: Shaping Head Start in the 90s

Initiated communication between academia and early childhood and family-support practitioners in an effort to exchange knowledge aimed at enhancing the well-being of low-income families with young children. (no materials from the proceedings are available)