HEAD START

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HEAD START
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WHAT IS HEAD START?

• Head Start and Early Head Start Programs 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
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History of Head Start

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

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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- President Bush announces Good Start Grow
  Smart initiative.
• 2005- FY budget is 6.8 billion and the total
  number of children served is over 25 million

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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

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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

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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.
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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
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Early Head Start

• 771 programs nationwide
• 59,866 children enrolled in 2004-2005 program
  year
• 5,996 pregnant women enrolled during the same
  period

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THE 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/Most20P
opular/Head20Start20Act/headstartact.html
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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 Performance Standards are the mandatory
  regulations that grantees and delegate agencies
  must implement in order to operate a Head Start
  and/or Early Head Start program.

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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

• Families receiving public assistance (TANF or
  SSI) regardless of income
• At least 10 of enrollment opportunities offered
  to children with disabilities

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2006 HHS Poverty Guidelines
inFamily 48 ContiguousStates and D.C. Alaska Hawaii
1 9,800 12,250 11,270
2 13,200 16,500 15,180
3 16,600 20,750 19,090
4 20,000 25,000 23,000
7 30,200 37,750 34,730
8 33,600 42,000 38,640
SOURCE  Federal Register, Vol. 71, No. 15,
January 24, 2006, pp. 3848-3849
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ELIGIBILITY VARIATIONS

• Migrant and Seasonal
• 51 of income from agricultural work (tree and
  field crops)
• Mobility in past 2 years
• Ages birth to compulsory school age
• Some seasonal farm worker children eligible as
  they settle out

• American Indian Alaska Native
• Geographically determined - on or near
  reservations
• 51 families served must be low income
• Tribal Council and Policy Council may select
  over-income children

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HEAD START DEMOGRAPHICS Race/Ethnicity

• (2005)

SOURCE http//www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/resear
ch/2006.htm
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Head Start Demographics Ages of Children
906,993 children served in 2005 Program Year
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HEAD START 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.

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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 Bushs 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.

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Head Start Services

• 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

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HEAD START ORGANIZATION CHART
FEDERAL
Local
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Head Start Regions
Region 12
Region 11
Migrant Head Start 42 states
American Indian Alaska Natives 27 states
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• 216 federally recognized Tribal entities and
  Alaska Natives participate in Head Start
  29,000 children
• 27 states including Alaska

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MIGRANT AND SEASONAL HEAD START

• 33,000 children
• 42 states
• Agriculture work
• Full-day/part year
• 5-7 days/week
• Birth to kinder
• Families migrate
• Transportation

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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

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Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies
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Head Start
Program Options
Center-Based
Home-Based
Local Program Options
Combination Programs
Family Child Care
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HEAD START FY2005 PROGRAM STATISTICS

• Head Start GRANTEES 1,604
• Head Start Classrooms 49,235    
• Head Start Centers 19,800
• Head Start Enrollment 906,993
• AVERAGE COST PER CHILD- 7,287
• PAID STAFF- 213,000
• VOLUNTEERS-1,360,000

SOURCE http//www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/resear
ch/2006.htm
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HEAD START RESOURCES

• National Head Start Training and Technical
  Assistance Network
• National Contractors
• Regional Contractors, including Content Area
  Specialists
• Local Technical Assistant Specialists

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Key Health Resources

• Approximately 84 of children enrolled in Head
  Start are also enrolled in either Medicaid, SCHIP
  or a combination program.
• 49 of families enrolled in Head
• Start received WIC services

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Health Services Advisory Committee

• All Head Start and Early Head Start programs are
  required to have a Health Services Advisory
  Committee
• 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.

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HSAC RESOURCE Weaving Connections
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Oral Health Requirements for Head Start and Early
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.

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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

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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

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Embracing Our Future Matthews Story
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FINDING A HEAD START

• 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/h
slc/HeadStartOffices
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• OFFICE OF HEAD START
• Portals Building, 8th Floor
• 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW
• Washington DC, 20024