News You Can Use Week of June 17 2011
NHSA Has Launched a Brand New Blog
This blog is one way we can spread the word about the many amazing things happening in the Head Start and Early Head Start communities and hear from a wide range of contributors about why Head Start is so vital. Please read it, comment on something that engages you, and pass along links to your networks. Click here to visit the blog.
NHSA Makes Recommendations for the Early Learning Challenge
On May 25th the Obama administration announced the $500 million Race To the Top-Early Learning Challenge (ELC) Grant Competition. Yesterday, Yasmina Vinci wrote a letter to U.S Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius with recommendations about the ELC. These recommendations are based on the feedback received from the Head Start community. To read NHSA recommendations, click here.
We also encourage the Head Start community to post comments/recommendations on the http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/05/rtt-early-learning-challenge/. We have prepared two sets of talking points to help you post comments/recommendations. Parents can access them by clicking here. Head Start staff can access them here.
State Head Start Association Round Table Conference Call
State Head Start association leaders are invited to participate in the quarterly round-table conference call. The purpose of these networking sessions is to support and enhance the operations of national, regional and state associations. Association operational issues, success and challenges will be discussed. Special topics will be presented in the areas of communications, connectivity, parent and grassroots engagement, professional development and State/Federal policy issues. Our next call is June 27, 2011 @ 2pm Eastern/11am Pacific. Call 605-477-3000, code 110394#.
Special Guest for the June 27th call will be representatives from the National Resource Center to discuss their project's scope, materials and training resources.
Agenda
State Association Round Table
2pm Eastern/11am Pacific
Call 605-477-3000, Call Code 110394#
- Introductions
- National Centers Presentations - Additional presenters to be added
- Sandra Petersen, Director of Outreach, Research, and Innovation
Early Head Start National Resource Center, ZERO TO THREE - Dr. Rob Corso, Vanderbilt University
National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning - Sue Heilman, Director,
National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement - NHSA Scholarship & Awards
Jane Adams, Director of Membership - Leaders as Learners - Negotiation Skills Training - FREE
October 24 & 25, 2011 Denver, CO - eCommons - Leadership Learning Community Update
Community Profiles, State Board Members Access - Updates from the States
- Evaluate Meeting (5 minutes)
Please be prepared to share "what worked" and "what needs to be improved"
Family Service & Parent Engagement Coordinators!
The June NHSA Family Connections newsletter is ready to print. We Are Partners focuses on issues faced by Seasonal Migrant programs and HS/EHS programs working with immigrant populations. It also includes social & emotional milestones for babies and young toddlers. Family Connections is produced by PreSchoolFirst and is an exclusive benefit for NHSA Program Members. To access, go to NHSA's Family Service Resource Center and get the June issue. Click here for more information.
Head Start Family Service and Health Service Provider Self-Study Credentialing
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TAILORED TO MEET YOUR NEEDS
Head Start Basic Family Services Credential - A self-study, distance-learning course for Head Start family service providers!
The Basic Family Services Credential develops health workers' skills in 12 competency areas, including partnering with families, implementing the family goal-setting process, developing parent involvement in child development and program governance, and providing family support in all service delivery areas. Each competency area corresponds to a component of the Head Start Program Performance Standards. Limitations on time and other factors do not have to stand in the way of enhancing your expertise and achieving all of your career goals!
The Head Start Health Services Credential - A self-study, distance-learning course for Head Start health service providers!
The Basic Health Services Credential develops health workers' skills in 12 competency areas, including child health and development services, implementing health and safety practices, individualized services for children, and health and wellness services. Limitations on time and other factors do not have to stand in the way of enhancing your expertise and achieving all of your career goals!
To learn more about either of these convenient self-study credential programs, click here or go to www.nhsa.org and get started TODAY!
October NHSA Training Institutes - Save the Date
You are probably planning to attend the Office of Head Start's 1st National Birth to Five Leadership Institute in Washington, October 3-5. Why not come a day early and stay a day later and stretch your training dollars by attending one of the four NHSA Training Institutes? Click here for more information.
28th Annual NHSA Parent Training Conference - Save the Date
NHSA's Annual Head Start Parent Conference is the only national parent conference that delivers high-quality training and educational opportunities to Head Start parents and those who work with or on behalf of parents. Click here for more information.
Supplemental Crib Standard Q&A's Now Available
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has release supplemental crib standard questions and answers. All crib safety and crib standard guidance/publications can be found on the CPSC website at www.cpsc.gov/cribs.
Upcoming Head Start Legal Advisory Service Trainings
Don't miss this important webinar:
(6/29/11) Non-Federal Share in Head Start - Getting it Right
Head Start programs are required to provide a 20% match of non-federal funds for the operation of their programs. This match (or "non-federal share") applies to regular Head Start and Early Head Start funds, as well as those received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Year in and year out, non-federal share is an ongoing trouble area for programs. Join us in this webinar to learn or refresh:
- What items and services your program can count as match;
- How to document matching share;
- Why showing "overmatch" makes sense; and
- Common and not-so-common pitfalls to avoid.
Based on our review of numerous examples from the field, we'll also discuss what we think your non federal share documentation forms should look like.
Who Should Attend: Executive Directors, Head Start Directors, Fiscal Staff, and Management Team, but anyone is welcome.
**The Head Start Legal Advisory Service live webinars will take a summer hiatus, but as always, our on-demand content is available over the summer. In addition, our new schedule of webinars for the next year is now available, along with great savings in our Back to School Special.**
Click here for more information and to register:
http://headstart.peachnewmedia.com/store/provider/provider09.php