Letter from Executive Director
October kicks off #HeadStartAwareness Month. President Reagan first established it in 1982, proclaiming October as Head Start Awareness Month. This is our annual opportunity to share Head Start’s success stories and generate awareness about the Head Start comprehensive early education programs for children from at-risk backgrounds from birth to age 5. We hope you will join FHSA and the entire early childhood community in celebrating Head Start! Check out all the fantastic resources the National Head Start Association has developed to help you spread the word.
October is also a big month for FHSA as we will induct seven new board members on October 11 during our annual awards luncheon. Get to know FHSA's new board members by clicking here. I am looking forward to working with the new board and the full range of skills and diversity they bring to the table.
I was able to visit a few programs in the Orlando area last month. Thank you, Children's Home Society, Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. (4C's), and Orange County Head Start for allowing me the opportunity to visit your programs and sharing the great work you do every day with me. While in the area, Orange County Head Start program was awarded a grant in collaboration with the Orlando Science Center for its STEM partnership. You can check out all of these highlights in What's Happening Around the State.
Florida was represented at NHSA Fall Leadership Institute Hill Day rally on September 25 in Washington, D.C.
FHSA was a proud sponsor for the Hill Day Rally and was honored that LaTanya Wynn Hall, Director for Lutheran Services of Florida Duval program, was asked to help kick off this year's rally. If you missed her words of encouragement, I recommend you check it out on the FHSA Facebook page.
In Partnership,
Wanda Minick
Executive Director
FHSA
Updates from the Office of Head Start
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is seeking input from the public and interested stakeholders on strategies to improve access to high quality, affordable child care in the U.S.
This Request for Information seeks public comment on: Identifying emerging and innovative practices to improve access to high quality child care, as well as identifying regulatory and other policies that unnecessarily drive up the cost of care or limit parents' choice of different child care options; and identifying ways to improve funding of child care and other related early education programs to support quality and create a more streamlined, equitable, and sustainable financing framework for future generations. ACF may use information collected through this request in the development of future rulemaking and technical assistance, the formation of legislative proposals and research agendas, and/or strategic planning. Comments will be accepted until December 2, 2019. Click here for more information.
Information Memoranda: Head Start and Early Head Start Eligibility for Children in Kinship Care ACF-IM-HS-19-03
The Office of Head Start (OHS) has received questions from grantees who want to enroll children living in kinship care and are concerned about the eligibility of these children. Formal or informal kinship care, for this IM, broadly refers to children who are living with relatives or caregivers other than their parents. In most cases, these children are eligible for Head Start services according to the Head Start Act, and Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), and programs can enroll them. OHS encourages grantees to include children in kinship care in their enrollment and selection process. Click here to read the Information Memoranda in its entirety.
Watch Dr. Bergeron Vlog
Vlog Highlights Include:
- ECLKC offers valuable resources for Teachers, Staff, and Parents. 15 minutes mini-lessons available.
- Check out CLASS webcast.
- #HomeAtHeadStart campaign will continue due to the increased enrollment in homeless families. This is the population that needs us the most and encourages you to maintain the efforts.
- OHS is putting initiatives in place to increase outreach to public schools.
Update on Comprehensive Background Checks and QRIS Participation
The Office of Head Start (OHS) is aware that programs are facing several challenges in meeting requirements regarding the updated comprehensive background checks and Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) participation.
As the new monitoring season begins, we want to assure grantees that the FY20 Monitoring Protocol on these provisions has not changed. Specifically, OHS will continue to monitor the background check requirements found in the Head Start Act in Section 648A(g)(3) and will not monitor QRIS participation.
What's Happening Around the State
Orange County Head Start recipient of a Disney foundation grant
On September 26, the Orange County Head Start program, in collaboration with the Orlando Science Center, was recognized as a Disney Foundation Grant recipient for $100,000. This grant will be used to expand the Ignite Discovery program, which introduces STEM concepts to preschool-aged learners, to the classrooms of more than 50 local educators. The Orange County Head Start and Orlando Science Center were celebrated as Grand Marshals before the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom Park, where the power of magic—and STEM—were shared. Sonya Hill, Orange County Head Start Director, stated, "this day was beyond AWESOME, and I know that it was only made possible because of this wonderful team. A team that shows up every day committed to working collaboratively with partners whose mission and goal are aligned with Orange County Head Start".
Orlando Visit Highlights
Florida migrant association’s students show what is possible
Isabel Garcia, executive director/Head Start director of the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA), was featured in the Tampa Bay Times. She wrote an opinion piece about how the RCMA program is the state’s largest non-profit provider of early childhood education, annually serving 6,500 students, including more than 1,500 in Hillsborough and Pasco counties. You can read the article here.
Franklin Johnson promoted to Head Start director, replacing Natalie Sanders
TCpalm.com - September 29, 2019
Franklin Johnson has been hired as the new director of Head Start, according to the Economic Opportunities Council of Indian River County. Johnson, who will start Oct. 1, succeeds Natalie Sanders, who is retiring. “As the agency’s Early Childhood Education specialist for the last five years, Mr. Johnson has been instrumental in our education program’s growth and success,” said Sanders.
FLAEYC Conference Rescheduled October 23-27 in Orlando
Due to Hurrican Dorain, the Florida AEYC Board canceled the FLAEYC annual conference. This conference has been rescheduled for October 23rd – 27th, 2019, at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®. The conference will focus on “Best Practices in Early Learning for Florida’s Children.” Conference registration is currently open, and hotel reservations can be made – visit the FLAEYC 2019 Conference page for information.
FHSA is aiming to procure presentations for its 2020 Annual Conference & Expo March 4-6 in Orlando, FL. Papers and Posters must tie into this years' theme, "Head Start: Leaders in Quality & Inclusion." The deadline to submit is November 1, 2019. Consider sharing your knowledge, expertise, and experience with Florida's Head Start community. As you begin to think about your presentation or poster submission, be sure it aligns with a birth to five scope. We are looking for presentations that will stimulate, innovate, and engage Early Head Start, Head Start, Child Care Partnerships, Migrant Head Start Programs, and Early Childhood educators administering programs in Florida. Click here for more details regarding the individual focus areas and to submit a presentation.
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Just in time for #HeadStartAwareness Month, NHSA has put together a plethora of resources for you to use when hosting members of Congress, state legislators, and community leaders. The toolkit developed contains templates to help you prepare pre and post visits along with a social media guide to help you engage Congression members on Head Stats impact plus so much more. I encourage you to check out these resources today!
Employment Opportunities
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