News You Can Use Week of March 9, 2012
Shout out to 27 Million Windows Participants!
“I am thankful for the experiences that Head Start gave me.” This sentiment from one testimonial is shared by nearly every story we’ve received - more than 200 so far! This week’s shout-out goes to Northwest Michigan CAA Head Start; Child Start, Inc. in Kansas; and Children First Head Start in Florida for being the programs who submitted the most new stories in the past two weeks! Check out their stories and videos and the program challenge standings at go.nhsa.org/27millionwindows - and don’t forget, the 27 alumni featured on the Day of Opportunity will be invited from alumni who’ve submitted their stories by March 20.
NHSA Disaster Relief Fund
The NHSA Disaster Relief Fund is a permanent assistance program. Funds are used to assist Head Start & Early Head Start Programs, staff, and families who become victims of natural disasters. Click here for more information on how to apply.
CDA Council’s Renewal Amnesty Program
The CDA Council launched its Renewal Amnesty Program on March 1. The program allows anyone who has earned or renewed a CDA in the last 10 years to apply for Renewal, even if the CDA credential has expired. This means that if your CDA has a credential date of January 2002 or later, you are eligible for Renewal Amnesty. Make sure to take advantage of the Council’s online application to renew. It's faster, and you can easily check your status as you go through the process! This program will only last until December 31, 2012, so be sure to renew today!
Save the Dates for Up-coming NHSA Events!
- The National Head Start Manager & Director Academy will be held in Louisville, KY June 4-7, 2012. Registration opens April 1st. The NHSA Academy includes an exciting curriculum comprised of learning modules focused on critical skills and current knowledge in program administration and management, daily presentations by experienced, knowledgeable faculty, and opportunities to share with colleagues and learn new skills and resources.
- NHSA’s National Head Start Fall Leadership Institute will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC from September 17-21, with Pre-Institute Training 9/17 & 9/18 and the Leadership Institute itself 9/19-21. Join more than 400 state and local leaders in our nation’s capitol to hear the latest policy and program information directly touching the lives of our communities, staff and the families we serve. At each Leadership Institute, NHSA brings forward thought leaders and community voices of those concerned about America’s children.
- Our National Head Start Winter Leadership Institute will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC from January 27-31, with Pre-Institute Training 1/27 & 1/28 and the Leadership Institute itself 1/29-31. Join more than 400 state and local leaders in our nation’s capitol to hear the latest policy and program information directly touching the lives of our communities, staff and the families we serve. At each Leadership Institute, NHSA brings forward thought leaders and community voices of those concerned about America’s children.
Know Any Outstanding Head Start Directors or Staff?
The Bammy Awards are currently accepting nominations to acknowledge excellence throughout the education field -- from teachers, principals and superintendents, to school nurses, support staff, advocates, researchers, early childhood specialists, education journalists and parents -- including two categories just for Head Start. The Awards aim to foster cross-discipline recognition of excellence in education, encourage collaboration and respect in and across the various domains, elevate education and education successes in the public eye, and raise the profile and voices of the many undervalued and unrecognized people who are making a difference in the field. Find out more and nominate someone in your community at www.bammyawards.com!
Exchange Magazine Article About Head Start
If you’re a subscriber to Exchange Magazine, be sure to check out this issue’s cover article about the Campagna Center’s Head Start programs in Alexandria, VA, written by NHSA's own Emmalie Dropkin! The article explores the many forms professional development takes at the Campagna Center and in Head Start programs across the country. If you’re not a subscriber, you can download the article for a fee here.
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: (3/19/12) Unpacking Federal Employment Laws (3 pm eastern time; NOTE NEW DATE) Does your Head Start or Early Head Start program need to gain knowledge on federal employment laws? Are there federal, non-Head Start employment laws that you aren't sure about? In addition to Head Start-specific Human Resources laws and rules, agencies running Head Start programs need to ensure compliance with a handful of other federal employment laws. These include: the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws involving discrimination, and the Family Medical Leave Act. This webinar will:
- Help you understand the key points of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other employment laws involving discrimination; and
- Assure you know the details of the Family Medical Leave Act.
This webinar has been developed to supplement our two other Human Resources in Head Start webinars. It will not cover Head Start-specific human resources issues stemming from the Head Start Act or Program Performance Standards. Please see our other HR in Head Start webinars for that information.
Who Should Attend: Executive Directors, Head Start Directors, Human Resources Directors and HR Personnel, but all are welcome.
(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.
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.
39th Annual Head Start Conference: Attention Directors!
NHSA's 39th Annual Head Start Conference will provide a unique professional development experience for you. Here are some of the sessions you will find of particular relevance:
Research-to-Practice Symposium
This Symposium and Luncheon (additional ticket) brings together leading researchers from a wide range of human development perspectives. The Symposium comprises a unique blend of presentations from both research and program operations. There is limited seating for the Symnposium, so register soon!
Wednesday, April 18
9:15-10:00
UCLA Health Care Institute - From Research to Practice
10:15-11:00
Coaching Head Start Staff to Implement Positive Behavior Support Methods to Address Children's Challenging Behavior
11:15-12:00
Professional Development that Improves Teacher Practice and Children’s Learning in Physical Science: Researchers and Practitioners
Research Luncheon 12:00 - 1:45
What is research and how is it different from evaluation? The keynote speaker will be Dr. Tomoko Wakabayashi, Director of Research of the HighScope Educational Research Foundation. Tickets for the Research Luncheon are $75.
2:00-3:45
Three Preschool Interventions Promoting the Development of School Readiness Skills in English Language Learners
4:00-4:45
Providing Need-based Professional Development to Home Visitation Staff: Challenges, Strategies, and Outcomes
CLASS™ Sessions
Wednesday, April 18
10:30am - 12:00pm
Improving Coaching and Teaching through Assessment Systems at the Child, Classroom and Coaching Levels
Understanding Effective Professional Development: How to use the CLASS-PreK and other Observational Data to Change Teacher Practice
Thursday, April 19
8:30am - 10:00am
Using the CLASS™ Tool for Local Monitoring and Professional Development
10:30am - 12:00pm
Coaching for Continuous Improvement and CLASS Success
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Infant and Toddler CLASS™: Assessing caregiver-child interactions for children from two months to three years old.
CLASS: Strategies to Meet the Challenge.
Sessions Offered by Centers of Excellence
NHSA is pleased to have 10 Centers of Excellence represented at the conference. In addition to the sessions listed here, the Centers will be present in a special Poster Session Thursday beginning at 8:30 am to present highlights of their programs and answer questions.
Wednesday, April 18
8:30am-10:00am
Turn your Policy Council into a STAR by Strengthening, Training, Advocating, and Reporting
10:30am - 12:00pm
SEEDS (Social Emotional Early Developmental Success)- Implementing the Incredible Years Curriculum in a Center of Excellence
2:00pm - 3:30pm
Using a Family Literacy Framework to Enhance Parent Engagement
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Roadmap to Individualized Goal Setting
Thursday, April 19
8:30am-10:00am
SEEDS (Social Emotional Early Developmental Success)- Implementing the Incredible Years Curriculum in a Center of Excellence
10:30am - 12:00pm
Data Driven Pathway to School Readiness
2:00pm - 3:30pm
The JCCEO Head Start Center of Excellence: Sharing Best Practices and Promoting Leadership Development
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Centers of Excellence Strategies for Successful Partnerships with Public Schools
Friday, April 20
9:00am - 10:30am
Helping Young Boys of Color to be Successful in Head Start, in School, and in Life
Research to Practice: Recommendations from Recent Research for Head Start