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June 2022 | The Monthly Newsletter of the Florida Head Start Association
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Letter from the Executive Director
As another school year ends, I hope you will use this time to recharge and reignite your passion for Head Start. So much is going on in the world, and I'm sure you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders like me. But we must keep forging ahead as so many children and families need the support of Head Start to keep their families moving forward. Your work is incredible, and the impact on families is immeasurable, which is why the Office of Head Start's focus is ongoing recovery, response, and renewal. FHSA will keep these priorities at the forefront of our work and continue to support the Head Start community to ensure that not only our most at-risk children and families are supported, but the Head Start workforce is too. Remember, FHSA is your partner, and we welcome any opportunity to support you to help meet your challenges. Please don't hesitate to let me know how we can best provide services to help you move forward.
June also is the start of Hurricane season. Like we need more stress and anxiety. However, the more prepared we are, the less worried we will be should a storm comes our way. A few helpful tips are to establish an emergency plan. There is an Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs on the ECLKC website to provide guidance and resources should you experience a natural disaster. I am sure most programs already have established protocols in place, but it is always a good idea to revisit them periodically.
Do not forget that the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday is happening now and ends on Friday, June 10. Take advantage of this opportunity and stock up on what you may need this hurricane season.
FHSA would like to welcome our newest board member, Temple DePlato, Episcopal Children's Services Chief Administrative Officer. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise and will be a tremendous asset to FHSA in supporting Head Start programs and ensuring the delivery of high-quality services to children and families. Welcome, Temple!
Stay well,
Wanda Minick
Executive Director
FHSA
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Office of Head Start Updates
Dr. Bernadine Futrell, Director of the Office of Head Start, announced she would be departing her role in June
On Tuesday, May 31, Dr. Futrell announced she would depart her role as Director of the Office of Head Start in June to take on another position in the Biden-Harris Administration. Katie Hamm, the deputy assistant secretary for early childhood education and development at the Administration for
Children and Families will act as the director for the Office of Head Start until a new person is appointed. You can read her entire email here.
OHS Expectations for the 2022-2023 Program Year
Last week, the Office of Head Start hosted a webinar outlining its expectations for the 2022-2023 program year, which speaks to CLASS monitoring, full enrollment initiative and encourages creativity and flexibilities in the use of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. To view the recording click here. Download slides here.
- CLASS®️ reviews will be conducted during the 2022-2023 program year, but OHS will not use the scores to make competitive determinations under DRS.
- Beginning September 2022, OHS will resume pre-pandemic practices for tracking and monitoring enrollment.
- Migrant and Seasonal program enrollment reports will be evaluated from September 2023-August 2024 since their enrollment is based on cumulative at the end of each budget period.
- SNAP families are eligible for Head Start services as referenced in ACF-IM-HS-22-03.
- No new updates on the mask requirement since Florida is part of the injunction of masks.
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Deadline to Submit Award Nominations Closing In
June 17, 2022, is the final deadline for grantee recipient's to submit their nominations for FHSA Annual Awards Program.
There are 15 State/Regional awards and 5 National awards available to Head Start, Early Head Start administrators, teachers, front-line staff, community partners, and parents to nominate.
State and Regional Award Categories:
- Administrator of the Year Award (focus area: Head Start and/or Early Head tart Director)
- Teacher of the Year Award
- Staff of the Year Award (focus area: Early Childhood Development/Health: Mental Health Emphasis)
- Support Staff of the Year Award (focus area: Classroom Support)
- Achievement Award
- Oral Health Award
- Beating the Odds Award
- Parent of the Year Award
- Father of the Year Award
- Humanitarian of the Year Award
- Corporate Award
- Scholarship for the Hearing Impaired
- Scholarship - Head Start Staff
- Scholarship - Head Start Alumni
- Scholarship - Head Start Parent
National Award Categories:
- Edward Zigler Innovation Award
- Sargent Shriver Excellence in Community Service Award
- Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award
- Vanessa Rich Leadership Award
- Ron Herndon Scholarship for Head Start Parents
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Join Us for the 2022 One Goal Summer Conference!
We hope you’re planning to join us for the One Goal Summer Conference on July 20-22 in Tampa at the Hilton Tampa Downtown Hotel.
It is an exciting time as we will be celebrating the Conference 35 years of providing motivational and educational experiences for early education and care providers.
This year's Opening General Session keynote speaker, Dr. Nesha Hammond, a licensed psychologist and an uplifting speaker, shares insightful resolutions on present and post-pandemic and trauma struggles experienced by young children. The Closing General Session features keynote speaker Dr. Dana Winters, Executive Director with the Fred Rogers Institute, a passionate, inspirational speaker sharing the power of connections through single, small, and ordinary moments. You will leave with a sense of renewal and excitement.
The 88 concurrent educational sessions will provide information on developmentally appropriate activities and teaching skills teachers can use while working with children. The event will host Commercial and educational exhibits showcasing the latest in early childhood materials, books, training, and educational aids. Networking and collaboration opportunities are available with leaders of local and state agencies and organizations.
- Make your hotel reservations early to guarantee availability and conference rates. We have sold out for the last two years before our cutoff date.
If you have any questions or need assistance registering, please do not hesitate to call the Conference office at (850) 893-6270.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Upcoming Events
June:
7-10th:RIVHSA Leadership Summit, Atlanta, GA
17th: Deadline to submit nominations for FHSA Annual Awards Programs
22-26th:Florida Family Child Care Home Association, Clearwater Beach, FL
July:
19: FHSA Directors Affiliate Group Meeting, Tampa, FL
19: FHSA Board of Directors Meeting, Tampa, FL
20-22: One Goal Summer Conference, Tampa, FL
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CDC recommends everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19.
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Member Information
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Important Links
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This month we are highlighting our Bronze to Friend level Corporate Partners for their continued support of Florida's Head Start Community. Click the logos below to learn more about these great partners.
Want to see your logo here? Click here to get yours added.
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195 Representatives Endorse Robust FY23 Funding for Head Start
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Head Start Association (NHSA) applauds Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Fred Keller, and the 193 other members of the U.S. House of Representatives, both Republicans and Democrats, who reaffirmed their commitment to providing America’s most vulnerable children and families with access to Head Start. These members signed letters of support requesting that congressional appropriators provide robust funding in fiscal year 2023 (FY23).
The FY23 letters from Democrats and Republicans to Chairwoman Rosa DeLaura (D-CT-03) and Ranking Member Tom Cole (R-OK-04) of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies each begin with the identical plea: “We urge you to prioritize funding for Head Start.” Click here to read the full NHSA statement.
NHSA is hosting a call for proposals for their 2022 Parent and Family Engagement Conference, December 12 - 15 in Dallas, Texas.
NHSA’s annual Parent and Family Engagement Conference focuses on how Head Start parents, families, and staff can best partner to promote family engagement and children’s development. This year, NHSA will explore a wide range of new resources and thinking on early childhood development and how Head Start programs can address the needs of children, families, and staff.
Click here to learn more about this event and how to submit your proposal.
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Get Your Head Start is Heart Work T-Shirt
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Join your State Association: FHSA provides members with access to tools, resources, and collaborative relationships empowering your agency's management team, staff, and parents. FHSA offers Individual and Corporate memberships too!
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Support your State Association: Help FHSA ensure Florida programs are supported through professional opportunities, research efforts, and legislation so they can continue to provide high-quality services to Florida's most at-risk children and families.
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