National Head Start Association

On October 22, 1982, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October Head Start Awareness Month. Thirty-one years after the proclamation, his words still inspire us to celebrate this great program: "Perhaps the most significant factor in the success of Head Start has been the involvement of parents, volunteers, and the community. Their commitment and the services provided by dedicated Head Start staff have been instrumental in creating a quality program that truly provides young children with a 'head start' in life."

Here are some of the many October activities. Check back often as we continue to update this page with new activities and events!

All Month Long: Alumni Spotlights

Throughout Head Start Awareness Month we will be spotlighting Alumni from across the country. Check back every weekday as we publish new stories!

Sept. 30 - Oct. 3: Fall Leadership Institute and Head Start Awareness Month Kick-Off Rally on Capitol Hill.

NHSA's Fall Leadership institute is an opportunity for Head Start and Early Head Start leaders to gather and discuss Early Childhood Education against the backdrop of pre-K expansion, the Sequester cuts, DRS, and funding in FY 2104. The Kick-Off Rally, on the grounds of the Capitol in Washington will be an exciting opportunity for Congress to hear our voices, and for us to hear our champions in Congress. Find out more about the Fall Leadership Institute and Kick-Off Rally at go.nhsa.org/fli-2013

October 3rd: JumpStart Read for the Record

Jumpstart is a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students and community corps members to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. Read for the Record is one day of the year when millions of individuals come together to celebrate literacy and support Jumpstart in its efforts to promote early childhood education Learn more at jumpstart.org

October 8th: Parent/Policy Council Conference Call

On October 8th, at 7pm ET, the National Head Start Association invites all parents and policy council members to join us for a Welcome! conference call. In this call we want to hear about what you have been doing this summer, tell you what NHSA has accomplished and discuss our goals for the upcoming month and year. We look forward to speaking with all the Head Start parents soon!

Register for this event

October 15th: 2013 Awards and Scholarships

NHSA announces the recipients of the 2013 scholarships and awards - given in recognition of their unique contributions to Head Start.

Click here to read more

October 18th: Celebrate Farm to Head Start

Many Head Start programs are engaging in “Farm to Head Start” activities, including purchasing local food for meals and snacks, bringing students to farms and farmers into the classroom, teaching students how to cook or prepare locally grown food, and even tending to your own gardens. On October 18th, NHSA and the National Farm to School Network will announce “Celebrate Farm to Head Start Day.” You can learn more, read about different program models, and sign up for a monthly Farm to Preschool e-newsletter at www.farmtopreschool.org.

Head Start Awareness Month Webinar Series

To bring attention to Head Start Awareness Month, NHSA will be hosting a series of 4 webinars! These webinars will provide you with a variety of information ranging from the origins of Head Start to the modern day classroom. Check back for more information on the topics below and we hope to see you there!

• October 9 - History and Mission of Head Start: Ready for Shcool, Ready for Life!
  
  Long before triennial reviews, immunization forms, developmental assessments, and fatherhood engagement, Head Start was conceived as an intervention for children and families living in poverty. The founders of Head Start recognized all families have strengths and that the role of the program was to provide maximum feasible participation in all aspects of services – from governing board to classrooms. Today, serving almost 1 million annually, Head Start and Early Head Start are vital conduits of services to vulnerable children and families. But how did we get here? What does our history teach us about our values we take into the future? How is our mission different from 1965?
  
  Join us as we discover how the past might predict the future. We will share some of the keystone events and characters along the way , but also share thoughts on the relevance of today’s work. Mrs. Lyndon Bains Johnson, said in the late 1960’s “Today, Head Start stands as a tribute to its participants, its dedicated staff, and its architects.” That statement is as true today as it was when shared almost 50 years ago.


• October 16 - The Head Start Classroom & 21st Century Learning
  
  Forty years of research in classrooms for young children, including prekindergarten and Head Start classrooms, have led to insights about what works best for children from poor families to facilitate their development. While having a curriculum is important, which specific one a teacher uses may be less so. More important are general aspects of how teachers and children behave in classrooms, behaviors that can be linked to a variety of curricular approaches. During this Luncheon, hear from Dr. Dale Farren of Vanderbilt University about the lessons she’s drawn about what is most critical for children’s success.


• October 23 - Moving from Parent Involvement to Family Engagement
  
  Involvement and engagement are not new concepts for the Head Start and Early Head Start communities. This webinar will offer the opportunity for participants to celebrate our history in partnering beside families for almost five decades. We will also explore ideas related to the attitudes and practices which may be useful as we continually strive to support families in moving toward engagement.


• October 30 - Leading in Uncertain Times
  
  In this webinar with Jim Kouzes, coauthor of The Leadership Challenge, we will explore how to lead in uncertain times—times like the ones we’re experiencing now. Jim has a unique perspective on what is reality and what is myth in leadership studies, and you’re invited to engage with Jim in an exploration of some of the most significant lessons he and Barry Posner have learned from their years of research on exemplary leadership.

National Food Day

Food Day is a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food and a grassroots campaign for better food policies. It builds all year long and culminates on October 24. Food Day aims to help people Eat Real. That means eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and sustainably raised protein.

This is a great opportunity for Head Start programs to participate in Cooking Matters at the Store tour to teach healthy shopping on a budget to your Head Start parents. Find out how to arrange a grocery store tour near you at http://go.nhsa.org/cmats.

All Month Long: Dollar Per Child Campaign

All month, all across the country, Dollar Per Child events are taking place, giving communities opportunities to show their support for the valuable role Head Start plays locally and to raise funds for NHSA’s advocacy efforts. Find out more at go.nhsa.org/dollar-per-child