Head Start Robin Brocato Office of Head Start

What is Head Start? Early Head Start and Head Start are comprehensive child development programs which serve children from birth to five, pregnant women, and their families. Source: http: //www. acf. hhs. gov/programs/hsb/about/generalinformation/index. htm

History of Head Start 1965 – Head Start 8 -week summer program to get children ready for kindergarten 1965 – American Indian/Alaska Native 159 grantees in 27 states 1969 – Migrant Head Start Birth to mandatory school age – children of Migrant farm workers (full day, at least 5 days/week) 1994 – Early Head Start Birth to three

History of Head Start 1998 – Head Start Reauthorization Act includes the mandates to expand to full day full year services. 2000 – Head Start Child Outcome Framework is issued 2002 – “Good Start Grow Smart” presidential initiative 2005 – FY budget is $6. 8 billion and the total number of children served is over 25 million

Goals of Head Start § Promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of low-income children § Support parents in their role as primary educators of their children and empower families § Provide a supportive learning environment for children, staff and parents § Meet basic health needs including prevention § Respect children & adults § As individuals § With roots in many cultures and languages § As members of a community

Head Start is unique… Involves parents in all aspects of decision making Parent volunteering and community representation on the policy council are part of the Head Start budget Community partnering is a requirement Parent preference in hiring

Head Start programs are… Multi-generational and family centered, following the tenet that children develop in the context of their families and culture and that parents are respected as the primary educators and nurturers of their children. Source: Introduction: Head Start Program Performance Standards and other Regulations.

In addition… Head Start services are responsive and appropriate to the developmental, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage and experience of individual children and their families. Source: http: //www. acf. hhs. gov/programs/hsb/about/generalinformation/index. htm

Early Head Start 734 programs nationwide 106, 731 infants and children enrolled in 20062007 program year 10, 422 pregnant women enrolled during the same period

Head Start Act The Head Start Act, outlines the intent of the Congress for the program, the types of services provided, the population served, reporting and evaluation requirements, and administrative requirements. Source: http: //eclkc. ohs. acf. hhs. gov/hslc/Most%20 Popular/Head%20 Start%20 Act/headstartact. html

Head Start Program Performance Standards The code of Federal regulations- 45 CFR PART 1304 — contains the program performance standards for the operation of Head Start programs by grantee and delegate agencies. The program performance standards are the mandatory regulations that grantees and delegate agencies must implement in order to operate a Early Head Start and/or Head Start program.

Eligibility Head Start is a child development program for preschoolers from low income families Birth to 3 (EHS) Ages 3 -5 Meet family income guidelines Slightly higher income if space available Children in foster care regardless of income Children who are homeless Families receiving public assistance (TANF or SSI) regardless of income At least 10% of enrollment opportunities offered to children with disabilities

2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines 48 Contiguous States and DC Alaska Hawaii $ 10, 400 14, 000 $13, 000 17, 500 $11, 960 16, 100 3 17, 600 22, 000 20, 240 4 7 8 21, 200 32, 000 35, 600 26, 500 40, 000 44, 500 24, 380 36, 800 40, 940 # in Family 1 2 Source: Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 15, January 23, 2008, pp. 3971 -3972

Eligibility Variations Migrant and Seasonal Ø 51% of income from American Indian – Alaska Native agricultural work (tree Ø Geographically and field crops) determined - on or near reservations Ø Mobility in past 2 years Ø 51% families served Ø Ages birth to must be low income compulsory school age Ø Tribal council and Ø Some seasonal farm policy council may worker children eligible select over-income as they settle out children

Head Start Demographics Race/Ethnicity (2006) Source: http: //www. acf. hhs. gov/programs/hsb/about/fy 2007. html

Head Start Demographics: Ages of Children (2006) 909, 201 children served in 2006 Program Year

Head Start Program Performance Standards Provide Head Start grantee regulations for… early childhood education health and safety nutrition transition social and emotional development disabilities parent involvement family partnerships community partnerships administrative and financial management, and facilities

Monitoring and Accountability PRISM- a set of instruments and a process used to conduct federal monitoring of Head Start grantees*. National Reporting System (NRS) – designed on the basis of President Bush’s Good Start, Grow Smart, Early Childhood Initiative and provisions of the Head Start Act to create a new national data base on the progress and accomplishments of 4 - and 5 -year-old Head Start children on specific child outcomes. Program Information Report (PIR) - an OMB approved report that collects comprehensive data on the services, staff, children and families served by Head Start. All grantees and delegates are required to submit (PIR) data.

Child development and education Medical screenings/exams Dental exams Disabilities Nutritious meals Mental wellness Parent education Home visits Staff development Community connections Parent involvement in decision-making Socialization Referrals

Head Start Organization Chart Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Office of Head Start Regional Offices (12) Head Start State Collaboration Offices Head Start Grantees Head Start Delegate Agencies

Head Start Regions Migrant American Indian & Alaska Natives Head Start 27 40 states

183 federally recognized Tribal entities and Alaska Natives participate in Head Start – 29, 000+ children 27 states including Alaska

Migrant and Seasonal Head Start v v v v 33, 075 children 40 states Agriculture work Full-day/part year 5 – 7 days/week Birth to kindergarten Families migrate Transportation

Head Start State Collaboration Offices Create a visible partnership at the state level to support the development of multi-agency and public/private partnerships. Help build early childhood systems Encourage widespread collaboration among Head Start and other appropriate programs, services, and initiatives, Facilitate the involvement of Head Start in state policies, plans, processes, and decisions

Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

Head Start Program Options Center. Based Home. Based Local Combination Programs Options ild h y. C l i Fam Care

Head Start FY 2006 Program Statistics Head Start grantees - 1, 604 Head Start classrooms - 50, 030 Head Start centers - 18, 875 Head Start enrollment - 909, 201 Average cost per child - $7, 209 Paid Staff - 218, 000 Volunteers - 1, 365, 000 Source: http: //www. acf. hhs. gov/programs/hsb/about/fy 2007. html

Head Start Resources National Head Start Training and Technical Assistance Network – National contractors – Regional contractors, including content area specialists – Local technical assistant specialists

Key Health Resources Approximately 82% of children enrolled in Head Start are also enrolled in either Medicaid, SCHIP, or a combination program. 493, 509 of families enrolled in Head Start received WIC services

Health Services Advisory Committee All Early Head Start and Head Start programs are required to have a Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) The HSAC is comprised of community health professionals, Head Start staff, and Head Start parents. It assists programs in identifying resources, developing policies and procedures and other activities.

HSAC Resource: Weaving Connections

Oral Health Requirements for Early Head Start and Head Start Within 90 days of entry, a determination if a child is up to date on a schedule of well child care, including dental, as determined by the state EPSDT schedule Head Start programs are required to work with parents to bring child up to date as soon as possible. Treatment plans must begin, NOT COMPLETED, within 90 days of entry.

Oral Health Challenges Limited number of dentist accepting Medicaid patients, especially in rural areas Parents not keeping appointments Lack of understanding by Head Start staff and parents about the importance of “baby teeth” and preventive practices Dental community awareness of the needs of Head Start children and families

Oral Health Program Information Report Data Self reported data From 2002 -2006, there is a slight increase in the percentage of children receiving needed services (76% to 80%) The need for treatment services has slightly declined from 29% in 2002 to 25% in 2006

Embracing Our Future: Matthew’s Story

Finding a Head Start Program Head Start programs are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. territories Head Start Locator: http: //eclkc. ohs. acf. hhs. gov/hslc/Head. Start. Offices

Office of Head Start 1250 Maryland Avenue, S. W. Portals Building, 8 th Floor Washington DC, 20024