This booklet presents a short history of the Head Start program and discusses some of the challenges that the program will face in the 1990s. Project Head Start, begun in 1965, has helped 12.5 million children become better prepared to start school, and has grown to be the largest early childhood and family education program in the country. From the outset, the program included four components that concerned education, health, social services, and parent involvement. Head Start faces new challenges in dealing with the increasing levels of poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, and other social ills faced by children today. More than ever, the program needs to: (1) create a safe, nurturing environment for young children; (2) foster social competence; (3) assist and involve parents; (4) improve coordination among social agencies and services; and (5) attract and prepare qualified staff. In order that programs such as Head Start can work more effectively, the nation as a whole must be more willing to commit the time and resources necessary to strengthen and broaden the Head Start program, and mainstream American society needs to examine its own attitudes and biases concerning poverty and other social problems. Contains 35 references. (MDM)