National Head Start Association

2-Day Pre-Institute Training
 

Saturday, September 18th - Sunday, September 19th

Effective Head Start Monitoring: Using Data to Make Decisions and Tools to Move toward Outcome-Based Management

More Information

Monday, September 20, 2010

7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Registration

(Ballroom Foyer)

12:30 - 1:30 pm

Opening General Session: Looking Ahead - a View from the White House
(Grand Ballroom)

Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Domestic Policy Council, will provide an update on the Administration's vision for Head Start and early learning in general, the opportunities and challenges.

Introduction:

• Ron Herndon, Chairman of the NHSA Board of Directors, NHSA

Presenter:

• Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Domestic Policy Council, The White House

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

What You Need to Know about Continuing Resolutions (CRs) and Head Start Funding Cliff

(Grand Ballroom)

During Fiscal Years 2009 and 2010, Head Start and Early Head Start programs received $2.1 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to serve more than 60,000 children and their families.  ARRA funds are not regular appropriations funds; that means Head Start and Early Head Start programs will NOT be able to continue serving these children if federal lawmakers approve a typical CR. Federal lawmakers typically only approve CRs that continue regular appropriations at the same level as the prior Fiscal Year. For that reason, Head Start and Early Head Start programs need a CR that would provide additional funds to make up for the ARRA funds.

During this session, attendees will learn what a CR is and what the three-month, twelve-month, and FY 2012 prospects are for getting federal lawmakers to approve a CR that would sustain the ARRA funds. In addition,  attendees will receive helpful advocacy tips about how to talk about and advocate for a CR that would sustain the ARRA funds.

Presenters:

• J. Zoe Beckerman, Esq., Partner, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP
• Allison Feighan, Vice President and Partner, Rapoza Associates
• Thomas Sheridan, Legislative Associate, NHSA
• Gregory A. Smith, Esq., Attorney and Government Affairs Specialist, Smith & Brown-Yazzie

Moderator:

• Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director, NHSA

2:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Break

2:45 - 3:45 p.m.

NHSA's Update and Future Vision
(Grand Ballroom)

This session will provide an opportunity for attendees to hear NHSA's strategic vision, learn how NHSA is strengthening its relationships with its affiliate state and regional Head Start associations by providing advocacy, professional development, and research services. During this session, time will be allocated to review and update attendees on strategies to support meaningful and effective Hill visits.

Presenters:

• Edward Condon, Director of Affiliate Relations, NHSA
• Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director, NHSA

Moderator:

• Carolyn Stennett, Esq., Deputy Director, NHSA

3:45 - 4 p.m.

Break

4 - 5 p.m.

Special Sessions

NHSA Affiliate Leaders Session
(Ballroom A)

Over the next 24 months, NHSA is setting out to build a network of National, Regional and State Head Start leaders.  NHSA in visions this network would include Affiliate association board members and professional staff.  Come prepared to share your thoughts on what this network might look like what critical elements need to be prioritized.

Introduction:

• Edward Condon, Director of Affiliate Relations, NHSA

Facilitator:

• Stacie G. Goffin, Ed.D., Principal, Goffin Strategy Group and lead author with Valora Washington of Ready or Not: Leadership Choices in Early Care and Education

New Leadership Institute Attendees
(Ballroom D)

During this session, attendees will be introduced to the flow of concepts and activities of the Leadership Institute and provided with ideas for leveraging the new learnings and contacts for own leadership development. A brief overview of NHSA's unique membership services will be presented, and attendees will be able to network with other new attendees

Presenters:

• Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director, NHSA
• Jane Adams, Director of Membership Services, NHSA

 4-5 p.m.

 Focus Group

NAEYC Accreditation and Head Start (Lafeyette Room)

A Powerful Partnership - Shared Committment to Excellence

Facilitators:

•  Linda Hassan Anderson, Senior Director of the NAEYC Academy, NAEYC
• Alison Pepper, Senior Director of NAEYC Accreditation Program Support, NAEYC
• Carleen Wallington Kinlock, NHSA Project Manager, NHSA

5 - 7 p.m.

Opening Reception - Weaving a Quilt from Many Patches
(Solarium Room)

Greetings:

• Edward Condon, Director of Affiliate Relations, NHSA

Evening and dinner on your own.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Registration

(Grand Ballroom Foyer)

Policy Sessions

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Immigration Issues (Grand Ballroom)

Immigration is a hot political and policy issue, and Head Start program are not immune from it. This session will help attendees learn about the unique needs, challenges, and opportunities faced by Head Start programs, including those of migrant/seasonal workers who are recent immigrants to the United States.

Presenters:

• Olivia Golden, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
• Victor Gomez, Interim Executive Director, National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association

Moderator:

• Delia Pompa, Vice-President, National Council of La Raza

8:45 - 9 a.m.

Break

9 - 9:45 a.m.

Head Start and Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Appropriations Update
(Grand Ballroom)

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriated enabled child care, Head Start, and Early Head Start programs to expand enrollment, services, and improve program quality. The Administration's Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposal would maintain these enrollment gains. During this session, attendees will hear from a nationally-recognized child care policy expert and key congressional staff about the status of the Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations legislation.

Presenters:

• Helen Blank, Director of Leadership and Public Policy, National Women's Law Center
• Mike Gentile, Professional Staff Member, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies  (Invited)
• Lisa Molyneux, Professional Staff Member, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies  (Invited)

Moderator:

9:45 - 10 a.m.

Break

10 - 10:45 a.m.

Parent Engagement
(Grand Ballroom)

Head Start's strong commitment to parent engagement distinguishes Head Start from most early childhood programs. During this session, attendees will hear how other national parenting organizations engage parents and the extent to which they work with Head Start programs.

Presenters:

• Mishaela Durán, Director of Government Affairs, PTA National Office of Programs & Public Policy
• Sue Stepleton, Executive Director, Parents As Teachers (Confirmed)

 Moderator:

• Gayle Kelley, Executive Director, Minnesota Head Start Association (Confirmed)

10:45 - 11 a.m.

Break

11 - 11:45 am

Families, and Communities
(Grand Ballroom)

In this session, Leadership Institute participants will be briefed on emerging federal policies and program opportunities.  Presenters will provide details on key issues in health, housing and community development.  Local Head Start program and Head Start association leaders will learn about opportunities to join local and state policy coalitions working to improve lives of vulnerable families and strengthen communities.

Presenters:

• Melissa Quirk, Policy Analyst, National Low Income Housing Coalition
• Luke Tate, Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Joe Theissen, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, Voices for America's Children

Edward Condon, Director of Affiliate Relations, NHSA

11:45 a.m. - Noon

Break

NHSA Listening Lunches

Noon - 1:30 pm

Three Working Lunches and Listening Sessions

During these breakout sessions with lunch provided, NHSA staff will solicit input from attendees about policy, grassroots advocacy, and research issues.

What Should be in Our 2011 Policy Agenda?
(Ballroom B/C)

This breakout session provides attendees with an opportunity to provide input into the development of NHSA's 2011 Policy Agenda. Attendees will have an opportunity to identify and share with the facilitators the legislative and regulatory matters that NHSA should pursue.

Facilitators:

• Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director, NHSA

• Vanessa Rich, Deputy Commissioner for Children's Services Division, City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services

Grassroots/Advocacy
(Ballroom A)

During this breakout session, attendees can discuss their ideas and successes and provide suggestions on what NHSA should be doing in terms of its grassroots advocacy capacity and strategies. Attendees will have an opportunity to share their insights about grassroots communications, technologies, and outreach tactics.

Facilitators:

• Thomas Sheridan, Legislative Associate, NHSA
• Kylee Allen, Parent Coordinator of Parent Ambassadors Program, Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP
• Cecily Dilworth, Parent Coordinator of Parent Ambassadors Program, Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP

Research Agenda
(Ballroom D)

This breakout session provides an opportunity for attendees to shape NHSA's 2011 research agenda and our advocacy for the larger Head Start/Early Head Start research agenda.  Among the many ideas that will be solicited, attendees will be asked what research is missing and needs to be conducted by OPRE; what NHSA should be researching and how NHSA can use research as professional development and advocacy tools.

Facilitators:

• Ben Allen, Ph.D., Public Policy and Research Director, NHSA

• Esmirna Valencia, Executive Director for the Division of Children and Family Services for Riverside County Office of Education

Policy Sessions (Continued)

1:30 - 2:15 p.m.

Connecting the Early Learning Community to Asset Building
(Grand Ballroom)

An estimated 40% of families with children in the U.S. are unable to cover basic expenses. This is especially true for families with young children. Family stability, including financial stability, is imperative for a young child's development. Asset building, including savings, is an approach to protect families from economic hardships. The early learning community, including Head Start and child care providers, are natural partners to help connect families with young children to the asset building community.

This session will highlight a new initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families. This initiative connects the early learning and asset building communities to help improve economic security for families.

Presenters:

• James Gatz, Esq., Program Manager, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families
• Richard Gonzales, Senior Advisor for State Advisory Councils, Administration for Children and Families

Moderator:

• Angela Smith, Director of Professional Development, NHSA

2:15 - 3 p.m.

Demystifying Program Quality, Accountability, and Assessments
(Grand Ballroom)

Program quality is a key consideration when federal lawmakers and policy analysts evaluate the worth of a program. During this session, attendees will learn from a prominent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) official how OMB thinks about outcome definition and measurement, and from a key U.S. Department of Education early childhood advisor her perspectives about assessment as a constructive strategy in Head Start.

Presenters:

• Jacqueline Jones, Ph.D., Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Early Learning, Office of The Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
• Shelley Metzenbaum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Performance and Personnel Management, OMB

Moderator:

• Ben Allen, Ph.D., Director of Public Policy and Research, NHSA

Skill Building Sessions (NHSA's Assets)

3 - 4 p.m.

The ability to interact with and communicate to the media is a crucial skill for Head Start and Early Head Start leaders, including program directors and national, regional, and state Head Start association presidents and executive directors. These skills are extremely important given the accountability demands that Head Start programs are experiencing. During this session, attendees will learn how to publicize the excellent work of Head Start programs and how to address high stakes questions from the media.

Presenter:

• Myra Peabody Gossens, Principal, MPG Advisors

Social Media/Technology
(Ballroom D)

Using Social Media tools has become an essential skill for building and relaying information to communities. Head Start and Early Start Head Start leaders in particular, can help make social media work for them--to involve policy makers, alumni, staff, families, donors, volunteers, and others--into their goals and communication. During this session, participants will learn about best practices for utilizing blogs, websites, Facebook, and twitter. Everyone is invited to join--those looking to maximize their use of social media and those just beginning to understand the terms. 

Introduction:

• Gregg Porter, Director of Technology Services, NHSA

Presenter:

• Laura Dallas McSorley, Teacher, Pre-K at Bridges Public Charter School  

4 - 4:15 p.m.

Break

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

The New Language of Head Start
(Ballroom A/B/C)

"It is not what you say, it is what they hear"...  We in the Head Start community know what we mean, but do other stakeholders and the public?! Find out what focus group research uncovered on the language about Head Start that we have been using for 40+ years, and  hear some recommendations for describing Head Start in this day and age.

Presenter:

• Lee Carter, Partner, maslansky + partners

 
How to Conduct and Use Research
(Ballroom D)

The word "research" appears 73 times in the Head Start Act, as amended. The significance of this fact is that research influences the programming, practices, and services of Head Start programs. During this session, attendees will learn what research is and how it can strengthen advocacy efforts. In addition, the session will address research's role in service delivery and child outcomes.

Presenter:

• Ben Allen, Ph.D., Director of Public Policy and Research, NHSA

5:15 - 5:30 p.m.

Break

Late Afternoon Sessions

5:30 - 7 p.m.

This roundtable is an opportunity for State and Regional Head Start Association leaders to meet and dialogue with the NHSA senior leadership team.  This will be an opportunity to share ideas related to Professional Development, Scholarships & Awards, Membership, Information/Technology and Fund Development.

5:30 - 7 p.m.

Advocacy by Head Start parents, directors, teachers, staff, and friends is essential to ensure that Head Start and Early Head Start programs can continue to thrive by providing needed comprehensive services to children and their low-income families. During this session, Washington State Association of Head Start & ECEAP (WSA)'s Parent Ambassadors will share with directors, parents, teachers, staff, and friends the nuts and bolts of how they advocate for these programs.

Presenters:

• J. Zoe Beckerman, Esq., Partner, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP
• Thomas Sheridan, Legislative Associate, NHSA
• Kylee Allen, Parent Coordinator of Parent Ambassadors Program, Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP
• Cecily Dilworth, Parent Coordinator of parent Ambassadors program, Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP

Evening events and dinner are on your own.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

7:45 - 10 a.m.

Registration
(Grand Ballroom Foyer)

8:30 - 10 a.m.

Reception and Award Honoring Senators Christopher Dodd and George Voinovich
Room G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Sponsored by the Connecticut Head Start Association, the National Head Start Association, and the Ohio Head Start Association

Chairman Christopher Dodd

Senator George Voinovich

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Effective Capitol Hill Visits

Scheduled by you or your state/regional Head Start association with your congressional delegation

Lunch on your own

The Dream Lives On: Celebrating 45 Years of Head Start

6 - 10 p.m.

Grand Hyatt Washington

1000 H Street, N.W.

Ticket is required for admission.

Or, dinner on your own

Thursday, September 23, 2010

9 - 10:30 a.m.

Closing General Session: Office of Head Start Update and Next Steps
(Grand Ballroom)

Yvette Sanchez Fuentes will provide an update on policy issues of interest to the Head Start community.

Introduction:

• Yasmina Vinci, Executive Director, NHSA

Presenter:

• Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, Director, Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Confirmed)

10:30 - 10:45 a.m.

Break

10:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Closing Session: Promoting Excellence on Head Start's Horizon
(Grand Ballroom)

In this session, leading voices in the excellence movement will present perspectives on the emerging opportunity for local Head Start programs to become the foremost experts for early education excellence in their local communities.  In the near future, excellence will not simply be a grant title or an annual award.  Excellence will become a movement whose principles must guide local directors, advocates and the expectations of Congress.  We must - children, families and communities are counting on us!

Presenters:

• Gayle Cunningham, Executive Director, Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity
• Harriett Dichter, Esq., National Director, First Five Years Fund
• Tim Nolan, Ph.D., CEO/President, National Centers for Learning Excellence, Inc.

Moderator:

• Yasmina, Vinci, Executive Director, NHSA  

 Special Meetings

Monday, September 20, 2010

9:00 am - Noon

Head Start Super Grantee Meeting

(Caucus Room)

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

California Head Start Delegation Meeting

(Caucus Room)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Noon - 3 p.m.

Region 3 Head Start Association Meeting

(Caucus Room)

Thursday, September 23, 2010

12:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Head Start Association Executive Director Consortium Meeting

(Renoir Room)