News You Can Use Week of March 23, 2012
Advocacy Shout-Out
Thanks to nearly 150 programs and 600 individuals who have told their Head Start stories to the 27 Million Windows campaign so far! If you haven’t told you story, don’t worry, there’s time - we’ll still accept stories all year and celebrate staff alumni and parent stories during other conferences and events.
Be sure to stop by our Window of Opportunity booth in Nashville to write or record your story on the spot! To see the testimonials already submitted, visit go.nhsa.org/27millionwindows. Stories are now organized by state!
39th Annual Conference Update
Monday, April 16 and Tuesday, April 17 Two-Day Special Tracks:
Sound Beginnings: Best Practices in Early Literacy
The Sound Beginnings special track provides instruction for early childhood educators on critical early literacy topics. The workshop is intended to help educators understand current research and best practices. Topics include code-focused and explicit instruction, alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness, phonics, print awareness, handwriting, oral language, and shared reading.
Strengths-Based Coaching for Leaders
Change is continuous as programs engage in quality improvements. What leads to change? How do we motivate adults through change, building on their strengths? How can we make the most of our time together? Learn a practical systematic process that will transform your role as a leader.
Tuesday, April 17 Two-Day Special Tracks:
A Joyous Jump Start in Literacy
Jump start 3 to 5 year olds in literacy skills with I Can Read Songs. Learn simple songs that teachers and parents can use to ease children into reading and writing. These simple, joyous, effective songs will empower teachers and parents to boost children in literacy as they sing and dance and move naturally into reading and writing.
Reading, Through the Eyes of a Child
Join Miss Lois Wachtel on a voyage into the early childhood classroom, as we look at reading through the eyes of our children. Together, we will bring together phonological awareness and whole language. We'll design class books that will encourage us to stretch familiar story; watch as a potato chip can, a silly sock, and a pizza box become stories. We'll move and interact with some fun songs, all of which will bring the joy of learning to read into your classroom. Totally interactive and fun learning, with a few giggles added.
Miss Lois will be joined by a special guest, David Kisor - David is the Music Director at Children, Inc., a non-profit agency offering nationally accredited early education and care throughout Northern Kentucky for infants through the school age child. Mr. David is a songwriter, performer, and teacher with a Master’s Degree in Composition from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.
Stress Buster Boot Camp - Strategies, Tools, and Ideas for High Level Wellness
Are you stressed-out about constantly increasing Federal Regulations, and having to do more with less? In this boot camp, presenters Steve Saffron and Rob Peck will lift your spirits and shift your energy from feeling burned out to being fired up! This creative learning experience will leave you with clear strategies and simple steps to manage your time and energy more effectively. In an atmosphere of fun, you will learn a series of high level wellness tools to take better care of yourself, energize your supervision, and enhance your self-esteem. You will grow personally and professionally, and be better equipped to work together as a team to realize Head Start's vital mission.
The Conference is just a month away! Register now! Click here for information.
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Calling all Head Start Agencies: Continue SafeLink Enrollments in 2012
SafeLink Wireless has set ambitious goals for 2012 to make sure that everyone who needs it has access to modern phone service. It is working with organizations like yours that make these goals attainable and we are committed to strengthening our partnerships and improving our services to grow the SafeLink program.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that even in these tough economic times only one third of consumers eligible for Lifeline; the program SafeLink falls under, are currently participating in the program. There is much work to be done to reach the other two thirds of eligible people that are not yet benefiting from this free and vital program. With this in mind, SafeLink encourages all Head Start Agencies to communicate the importance of this program and continue enrolling your clients so they can stay connected, whether when searching for employment or when seeking help in an emergency.
In case your agency is not yet enrolling clients, here is some background information on SafeLink. SafeLink is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and free airtime minutes each month to qualifying individuals. It costs absolutely nothing, requires no contracts or credit checks and offers modern day calling features such as voicemail, call waiting, text messaging, carry-over minutes, free411, caller ID, and international calling to 60 countries at no additional cost.
For additional information on SafeLink visit www.safelink.com. If your agency is not yet participating and is interested please contact a SafeLink representative at info@safelinkagencies.com or (305) 975-7600.
SAVE THE DATE! NHSA Manager and Director Academy - June 4 - 7, 2012, Louisville, KY
NHSA's Manager and Director Academy offers an intensive curriculum to Head Start directors, managers, and other professionals over a four-day period. The Academy is organized into learning modules focused on critical skills and current knowledge in program administration and management. The 2012 Academy will be held at the Downtown Marriott in Louisville, Kentucky - call 1-877-901-6632 for rooms. Click here for more information.
Early Learning Webinar Series
The Office of Early Learning at the U.S. Department of Education is hosting a webinar series to support SIG schools using high-quality preschool and P-3 structures to improve outcomes for students. The final webinar of the series on Tuesday, March 27, will focus on the building blocks of early mathematics, research-based mathematics curricula and assessment, and effective coaching models. Presenters are Douglas H. Clements, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, The State University of New York (SUNY); Julie Sarama, Ph.D., Professor and Department Chair, The State University of New York; Jennifer S. McCray, Ph.D., Director, Early Mathematics Education Project, Erikson Institute Graduate School in Child Development; and Jie-Qi Chen, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Early Mathematics Education Project, Erikson Institute Graduate School in Child Development. Webinars begin at 3:30pm Eastern time/12:30pm Pacific and last for 90 minutes. Register here.
Family Service and Parent Engagement Coordinators!
The April NHSA Family Connections newsletter is ready to print. This issue’s focus is “The Power of Words”. Studies show that young children who enter kindergarten with strong language skills generally do better academically throughout their school years. In this issue, families can learn hoe to help babies, toddlers, and preschool children gain these important skills by doing a few simple things.
Family Connections is produced by and is an exclusive benefit for NHSA Program Members. To access, go to NHSA’s Family Service Resource Center.
Don’t Miss Upcoming Legal Advisory Service Trainings
The Head Start Legal Advisory Service, a collaboration between Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP and the National Head Start Association, has developed key offerings designed with programs like yours in mind. Join Ted Waters and Zoë Beckerman for the following webinars:
(4/04/12) Establishing a Culture of Compliance (3 pm eastern time)
Effective compliance is the name of the game across the board for the Head Start program, whether you are explaining your practices to funders, program reviewers, auditors or the media. So just how do you establish a culture of compliance in your Head Start program? How can a culture of compliance help keep you out of the Recompetition pool? Join us on this webinar to learn:
- Why compliance matters;
- The 7 elements of a compliance program; and
- Tips about what works and what doesn't.
Who Should Attend: Executive Directors, Head Start Directors, Senior Management, Compliance Officers, Compliance Committee members, but all are welcome.
(4/25/12) Conducting Internal Investigations (3 pm eastern time)
With all of the additional scrutiny that Head Start programs continue to receive from the Government Accountability Office, the HHS Office of Inspector General, the Office of Head Start, Congress, the media, and others, there has never been a better time to understand when and how to conduct internal investigations. On this webinar, we'll focus on the following:
- Who, what, why, when and how of internal investigations;
- Factors to consider when you need to begin an internal investigation; and
- Significance and challenges of making disclosures, including legal ramifications.
Who Should Attend: Executive Directors, Head Start Directors, Senior Management, Compliance Officers, Compliance Committee members, but all are welcome.
The Head Start Legal Advisory Service, a collaboration between Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP and the National Head Start Association, has this topic, as well as other new offerings on topics designed with programs like yours in mind. To register or see the full list of this season’s trainings, please go to: http://headstart.peachnewmedia.com/store/provider/provider09.php.