We hope you plan to join us in Orlando on December 10-13, 2024, for our Annual Conference & Expo, For the Record, Head Start Rocks!  

This marks FHSA's 25th Anniversary, and we promise this event will be educational and fun!  If you missed your first opportunity to register, now is your time. Registration is open until Thursday, November 19, 2024. 

NOTE: If you originally registered and now cannot attend, you can transfer your registration to your colleague by completing this substitution form. A substitution form must be on file and accepted by FHSA in order to be a registered attendee.

The hotel room block at the Doubletree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando is open. The deadline to reserve your hotel accommodations is Tuesday, November 19, 2024. 

The group discounted rate is $159 per night++. 

Please note that overnight and event day self-parking is discounted to $15 plus tax per day.

The FHSA Annual Conference is only affordable because of the generous sponsors who make this event an amazing experience for all attendees. The conference would be nearly three times as expensive without their generous support. Please show these Sponsors ♥ by thanking them and contacting them when you need any of their services.

Elevate your data game with the Head Start Data Camp! This 2-day, fast-paced camp is perfect for those who work with data every day. There are two virtual sessions to choose from:

• January 9 & 10, 2025: 10am - 1pm (EST)
• January 15 & 16, 2025: 9am - 12pm (EST)

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with The Academy at the National Head Start Association (NHSA). This collaboration will bring unique benefits to our Head Start and Early Head Start programs, including high-quality, synchronous, and hybrid online professional development opportunities. 

This partnership is not just a win for FHSA but for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. It will make high-quality professional development not only accessible and attainable, but also affordable. A portion of the revenue generated from our programs in Florida will be reinvested in FHSA, allowing us to provide our members with enhanced support, strengthen resources, and further our advocacy efforts. 

We are genuinely excited about this partnership and hope you share our enthusiasm! We invite you to explore all the professional development opportunities offered to enhance your staff training and develop your entire team, regardless of experience.

Earlier this month, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released new Information Memorandums (IM) and Program Instructions (PI) that impact reporting requirements and program monitoring:

• Fiscal Year 2025 Monitoring Process for Head Start Recipients, ACF-OHS-IM-24-07, Issued: 11-08-2024: This Information Memorandum (IM) outlines the OHS monitoring process for fiscal year 2025 (FY25). It described the types of monitoring reviews that recipients may experience, highlighting Focus Area 1 (FA1), Focus Area 2 (FA2), Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS^®), Risk Assessment Notification (RAN), and unannounced reviews.
  
  
• Reporting Child Health and Safety Incidents, ACF-OHS-IM-24-06, Issued: 11-07-2024: This IM supersedes ACF-IM-HS-22-07. Grant recipients are required to report all significant incidents that affect the health and safety of a child that occurs in a Head Start setting where services are provided to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) official immediately but no later than seven calendar days following an incident.
  
  
• Final Rule to Delay Effective Date for Increasing the CLASS Instructional Support Domain Competitive Threshold, ACF-OHS-PI-24-07, Issued: 11/06/2024:On November 6, 2024, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a final rule in the Federal Register that delays the effective date for increasing the competitive threshold of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS®) Instructional Support domain.  This delay will allow Head Start programs the time and attention they need to implement the revised Performance Standards. Rest assured, we are here to support and guide you through this process. 

Did you know that Head Start grant recipients can apply for supplemental funding anytime during the year when unexpected needs arise? 

This funding can be especially valuable for addressing urgent health and safety improvements that are beyond the scope of a program's regular budget. Programs can use these funds for various needs, such as:

• Making repairs or upgrades to facilities and playgrounds;
• Adding temporary staff positions to reduce classroom ratios; or
• Provide extra support where needed.

While considerable flexibility exists in using these funds, they are limited and available to fund projects for only one year instead of multiple years. Contact your regional office to learn more about the application process.

NHSA SURVEY: NHSA’s annual workforce survey is now open! It's critical that NHSA hears from the Head Start community, especially as we fight for funding to support the workforce. Your input is vital to advance advocacy efforts to make Head Start’s voice heard by Congress and the administration–thank you for your participation! 

NHSA Parent and Family Engagement Conference December 16-19, 2024 

Join NHSA in San Diego, CA, for their annual Parent and Family Engagement Conference. This year’s sessions are designed to inspire, empower, and equip attendees with practical strategies to strengthen their teams, improve communication, and foster meaningful engagement with families.