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June 5, 2006

House Labor HHS Subcommittee to Take Up Funding
On Wednesday, June 7, the House Labor HHS subcommittee will take up funding for Head Start and other important programs. It is unclear how much Head Start will receive, but is expected to be less than the $234 million increase we are seeking — the amount Head Start needs to simply keep pace with rising costs.

A mark-up in the full committee could take place on Wednesday, June 14. This means that members of the Head Start community should contact their House member this week about Head Start funding. Double your efforts if you have a member on the full appropriations committee. If your member is on the committee, give them a call this week. Let them know that you support at least a $234 million increase for Head Start. The link for members on the committee and their contact information is:

New Transportation Waivers Proposed
Last week, HHS sent out a request for comments on changes to the transportation regulations that would establish yearly waivers for programs and make it easier to qualify. Please let us know what you think of the proposal by e-mailing Joel Ryan at jryan@nhsa.org. The link to the rule being proposed is:

Commontales.com Partners With Head Start
Our new partnership with Commontales allows Head Start parents, staff, and alumni to share their success stories and also to communicate via comment with each other. Read about the Sequatchie Head Start kids at http://www.commontales.com/os/we.aspx?e=1327, our 1970 Head Start graduate Colorado Judge Ed Casias at http://www.commontales.com/os/we.aspx?e=1302
or a terrific Head Start Literacy teacher and very “determined” young reader http://www.commontales.com/os/we.aspx?e=1253.

Share your own at www.commontales.com/headstart. Commontales has donated its services free for life to the Head Start community.

Voter Education Campaigns Are on the Move
Across the country, State Head Start Associations and local communities are banding together to get parents and staff out to vote. In California, a voter tool kit went out to all of its members. In Missouri, 25 voter education organizers were chosen by their Association to conduct a massive voter education campaign this fall. NHSA, in partnership with the Louisiana Head Start Association and our key ally Every Child Matters, are also engaged in a big voter campaign. If you want help in getting your campaign off the ground in your state or local community, e-mail Kahree Wahid at kwahid@nhsa.org or call him at (318)776-0061.

Head Start in the News
The latest news articles about Head Start funding and budget cuts this week plus an interesting story on the father of the year from Nebraska are here:

Dollar per Child Momentum Growing
Last week, GAD staff traveled to Kansas City, Missouri, for the Region 7 Head Start Association conference. The conference was a great success. Region 7 association members raffled off baskets for the Dollar per Child Campaign. We thank them for their support! Region 4 has exceeded last year’s effort. The Alabama Head Start Association sent “invoices” to each program asking them to contribute for each child enrolled. Across the country, we hear reports from parents and associations of the same energy. Everyone is pushing hard for the Dollar per Child Campaign. We (and the children) appreciate all of contributions and hard work that is going into to making this campaign successful. The campaign closes June 30. So, please remember the kids who count on you and contribute your $1 – or, if you can, send a bit more.