Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Head Start

Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Head Start
Name	Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Head Start
Formation	1970s
Type	Non-profit
Headquarters	Fort Berthold Indian Reservation
Region served	McKenzie County; Mountrail County; Dunn County; Mercer County
Leader title	Executive Director

Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara (MHA) Head Start is an early childhood development program serving children and families on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and surrounding communities in North Dakota. It operates within the context of federal Head Start Program funding and tribal administration, integrating traditional Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara cultural instruction with federally prescribed services. The program engages with regional institutions, tribal governments, and national organizations to deliver health, nutrition, education, and family-support services.

History

MHA Head Start traces roots to the expansion of the Head Start Program under the Office of Head Start and tribal initiatives during the 1970s, reflecting broader trends associated with the Native American self-determination movement and the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975. The program developed alongside the political evolution of the Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation and interacted with agencies such as the Administration for Children and Families and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Over time, MHA Head Start adapted to changes in federal policy exemplified by the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 and has engaged with research from institutions like the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and the University of North Dakota.

Mission and Programs

MHA Head Start’s mission aligns with standards set by the National Head Start Association and the Zero to Three framework, emphasizing school readiness, health screening, and family engagement. Its programming includes Early Head Start services, special education coordination with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provisions, and nutrition services reflecting guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture. Classroom curricula draw on models such as the HighScope curriculum and Creative Curriculum while integrating cultural components from Mandan ceremonial life, Hidatsa storytelling traditions, and Arikara language instruction. The program also coordinates immunization and dental screenings with regional health providers like the Indian Health Service and local clinics.

Governance and Funding

MHA Head Start is governed by a local policy council and board that includes representatives from the Three Affiliated Tribes and community stakeholders, operating under federal grant mechanisms administered by the Administration for Children and Families. Funding streams include Head Start grants, support from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, state child care funds administered by North Dakota Department of Human Services, and private foundations such as the George Kaiser Family Foundation model, alongside community fundraising. Compliance and monitoring engage entities like the Office of Head Start regional office and external auditors familiar with Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

Facilities and Locations

Facilities are located across the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in communities such as New Town, North Dakota, Regal, North Dakota, White Shield, North Dakota, and Parshall, North Dakota, with classrooms situated in tribally managed centers, public schools, and satellite sites. Infrastructure projects have intersected with regional initiatives including the Garrison Dam relocation legacy and tribal housing programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program has coordinated facility standards with the National Association for the Education of Young Children accreditation guidelines and local school districts like Belcourt Public School District and Turtle Mountain Public Schools for transition services.

Cultural and Language Preservation

Cultural preservation is central: MHA Head Start incorporates lessons from Mandan pottery traditions, Hidatsa earthlodge histories, and Arikara songs into classroom practice while supporting immersion and language reclamation efforts connected to the Language Conservancy and university linguistics programs at North Dakota State University and the University of Montana. The program partners with tribal cultural committees, educators trained by the Smithsonian Institution Indigenous programs, and elders who carry oral histories tied to events like the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 and the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. Such integration supports intergenerational transmission relevant to broader movements represented by the National Congress of American Indians.

Community Impact and Outcomes

MHA Head Start reports outcomes in areas tracked by the Head Start Program Performance Standards including school readiness measures, health indicators aligned with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention benchmarks, and family well-being metrics echoed by research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child. The program has contributed to local workforce development, linking graduates to opportunities at institutions like the Mandan Public School District and tribal enterprises such as the MHA Nation Tribal Enterprises. Evaluations reference comparative studies by the RAND Corporation and policy analyses from the Brookings Institution on early childhood interventions in Indigenous communities.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Collaborations span tribal government bodies such as the Three Affiliated Tribes, federal agencies including the Indian Health Service and the Administration for Children and Families, educational partners like the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University, and nonprofit organizations such as the National Head Start Association and the First Nations Development Institute. The program also engages with funding partners, research institutions like the Center for Indian Country Development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and cultural organizations including the National Museum of the American Indian to enhance program quality and cultural continuity.

Category:Native American organizations in North Dakota Category:Head Start programs