National Head Start Association

NHSA UPDATE

Week of January 8, 2010

 

Dear Friends:

A warm welcome back from what we hope was a lovely holiday and a very happy new year!  We are excited to continue our work with our extended membership and the greater Head Start and early childhood community. Together, we will continue to make strides for Head Start in 2010!

Please read this email and share it with others in your network. It contains information about our upcoming Leadership Institute, Administration News, a Legislative Update, some Additional Resources, and a Call to Action.  

 

 

ADMINISTRATION NEWS  

Update on Recovery Act Reporting: Important New Guidance

With the next reporting deadline right around the corner, we want to make sure you are up to date on the latest information. The Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") posted key changes to its reporting guidance on December 18, 2009. The new guidance (M-10-08) addresses some of the ongoing challenges that have occurred to date, including job reporting and quarterly reports. All Head Start programs need to understand this new information and follow the guidance for the Recovery Act mandatory reporting.   To download the new guidance, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/recovery_default/ and choose M-10-08. For additional information, please visit https://www.federalreporting.gov/federalreporting/home.do .

ACF Publishes New Guidance on PIR and Enrollment Reporting

On December 24, 2009, ACF posted a new Program Information notice on the eclkc website. Entitled "ARRA PIR and Enrollment Reporting," PI-09-11, it can be found at: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/Program%20Design%20and%20Management/Head%20Start%20Requirements/PIs/2009/resour_pri_011_122409.html.

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 

The House and Senate have been in recess for the holidays. Both chambers are expected to convene (meaning they will go back into legislative session) mid-January. 

Entering a brand new year, we wanted to give you a quick update on some legislation NHSA has been watching throughout 2009.

Health Care Reform

Legislating on health care reform has been, and continues to be, a wild ride. On December 24, 2009, the Senate was still in session. That morning at 7 am, the Senate finally voted 60-39 to pass a health care reform bill, which includes health insurance coverage for about 31 million currently uninsured Americans. Following the vote, President Obama noted that "[i]f passed, this will be the most important piece of social policy since the Social Security Act in the 1930s, and the most important reform of our health care system since Medicare passed in the 1960s." He then noted the next challenge is "to finish the job." (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/12/24/another-tremendous-step-forward.)

A challenge it will be. We've explained in prior Updates that the House and the Senate each had different versions of the bill, so the next step is for the two chambers to negotiate and resolve the variations into a final bill to be signed into law. Speaker of the House Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid have announced that they will bypass the traditional bicameral Conference Committee process typically used to iron our bill differences and instead plan to "ping pong" the Senate bill back to the House for amendments and passage. That final version will then be sent back over to the Senate for final passage and will then be sent to President Obama for his signature.

There are many differences between the passed House and Senate bills, but the biggest issues to resolve include how the legislation will be paid for and how much government aid will be given to help lower and middle class Americans afford insurance. The existence of a much-publicized "public option" will also be determined. Please see below for information on the nurse home visiting elements of the bills.

House Version- Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962: For a summary and text of the bill, please go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and click on "HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act" at the top of the page.

Senate Version- The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, H.R. 3590: For a summary and text of the bill, http://thomas.loc.gov/ and click on "HR3590: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" at the top of the page.

Nurse Home Visiting

As noted above, both the House and Senate-passed versions of health care reform include language on nurse home visiting. Section 2951 of the Senate bill and Section 1904 of the House bill (links to the bill text are included above) provide grants to states for quality home visiting programs for maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs. The bills include differing provisions, so once we learn what the final bill to be signed into law includes, we'll be sure to keep you posted on the specifics. Stay tuned!

Early Learning Challenge Fund

H.R. 3221, introduced by Chairman George Miller (D-CA), the "Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009" includes a provision which creates the Early Learning Challenge Fund that will provide $8 billion over 8 years in the form of competitive grants to states in order to build a comprehensive, high quality early learning system and quality standards for children ages birth to five. It passed the full House of Representatives on September 17, 2009, but a Senate version has yet to be introduced.

E-Rate

H.R. 2166, introduced by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), H.R. 2166 would allow Head Start programs to obtain more affordable telecommunications and internet service on par with public schools and libraries. It was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in April 2009, but no moment has occurred on it in Committee. Additionally, it does not have a companion bill in the Senate.

For more information on any of these bills or any other legislation, feel free to either refer to http://www.loc.gov/index.html or contact Tommy at 703-739-7560.

Recent Retirements

This past week, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) both announced their intentions to retire at the end of this term. Dorgan served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 1981 to 1992 and is currently in his third term as Senator. He serves as Chairman of the Senate's Democratic Policy Committee and Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. Dodd was elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 and served until 1980 when he became a Senator. Dodd serves as the Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. He also founded the first Children's Caucus in the Senate. 

 

SEEKING YOUR INPUT!

National Head Start Association's DRAFT 2010 Policy Agenda 

As you may or may not know, NHSA has been working on creating a comprehensive 2010 Policy Agenda to guide our advocacy efforts. In an attempt to better represent the Head Start community, we have sought feedback using a variety of methods. The first draft of the 2010 Policy Agenda is now complete, thanks to your help, and we would like additional feedback. Please take a few moments to read over the draft and send your suggestions to Ben Allen at ballen@nhsa.org by 6 pm Pacific Time on January 11, 2010. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

RESOURCES FOR YOU

Head Start Legal Advisory Service Webinar: Head Start Monitoring

At least once every three years, Head Start programs undergo on-site monitoring. Before too long, the monitoring review process will be linked to re-competition. Don't let your senior staff miss out on the opportunity to learn the nuts and bolts of the monitoring process and some important tips to ensure your review goes smoothly! Join Ted Waters of Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP -- who also leads the Head Start Legal Advisory Service -- for a webinar on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 3pm eastern time when he'll explain:

• The basics of the monitoring review process;
• The legal ramifications of timelines in the process; and
• Best practices and tips for ensuring your monitoring review goes smoothly.

To learn about NHSA-member discount pricing for both this webinar and the one below and to sign up today, please go to www.ftlf.com and click on "Events."

Head Start Legal Advisory Service Webinar: Head Start Monitoring Part 2 -- Program Design and Management from a Lawyer's Perspective

Continuing our look at Head Start Monitoring, Ted Waters will turn his focus to key elements of the Program Design and Management section of the OHS Monitoring Protocol. He will review actual questions in the new tool and provide tips. Executive Directors and your Management Teams are invited to join this webinar on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 3 pm eastern time, to:

• Review actual questions in the new tool and what OHS is looking for;
• Provide ideas about documentation to "prove up" your compliance; and
• Work through specific approaches to some sample problems.

Don't miss out! Please click on the link above to register.

 

CALL TO ACTION

Participate in National Influenza Vaccination Week

NHSA recently received a request from Secretary Kathleen Sebelius encouraging the Head Start community to participate in the National Influenza Vaccination Week, which takes place from January 10 - 16, 2010. With more than 47 million cases of H1N1 flu being reported this past year, this week provides a great opportunity to get vaccinated yourself, encourage friends and family to get vaccinated, and advocate for increased influenza awareness in your community. For more information, please visit www.Flu.gov/getvaccinated.

Give to Dollar Per Child  

Thanks to all of you who donated to the Dollar per Child Campaign ("DPC") this year. All the work that NHSA did on the ARRA and is doing on other current legislative efforts is paid for by Dollar Per Child funds. With a difficult budget situation in the coming years, the struggle to maintain the gains of ARRA will arguably be even more arduous. That is why we need you to continue to support the Dollar Per Child Campaign and to get everyone in your program and your community to support DPC. Without a robust source of funds, NHSA can't lead the way in our advocacy efforts that benefit all Head Start programs. It is through these dollars that we can advocate for you and with you on your behalf. Don't wait!!! Please send your contributions, whatever amount you can afford, whether it is $1 per child, $5 per child, or $10 per child. You can even easily donate online on our new, improved website at: https://www.nhsa.org/get_involved/donate.   

Dollar Per Child funds will ensure that NHSA can continue to lead the way in all of the future advocacy efforts coming up - from regulatory issues with the Office of Head Start, to additional fiscal year appropriations, to the next Head Start Act reauthorization, which is not far off. Remember, raise your hand!  Use your words! Together we can make a difference.  

Please know that NHSA continues to work for you and with you on your behalf on matters of importance to the Head Start community.   

 

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 © National Head Start Association, 2010. All rights reserved.  

 

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This NHSA Update has been sent to Head Start Directors, the NHSA Board, Head Start State and Regional Association Presidents, Executive Directors, Parents, and Corporate Sponsors.