National Head Start Association

October Institutes

The list of speakers, panelists, and trainers just gets better and better! From the White House, to NAEYC, to Arkansas, we have the best and most innovative. The entire country will be focused on what will happen in Washington in October. You should make plans to be in the midst of the action.

 Here is a partial list:

• Gene Sperling, Director, National Economic Council, White House (Invited)
• Ron Haskins, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institute (Confirmed)
• Janet Murguia, Executive Director, National Council of La Raza
• Rick Mockler, Executive Director, California Head Start Association
• Libby Doggett, Deputy Director, Pew Center on the States (Confirmed)
• Audrey Yowell, National Program Director, HRSA, US Department of Health and Human Services (Confirmed)
• Lisa Stewart Beacon Consulting Group, Washington, D.C.
• Therese Magnuson Beacon Consulting Group, Washington, D.C.
• Joan Lombardi Office of Head Start
• David Johns, Senior Policy Advisor, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, US Senate (Invited)
• Jerlean Daniels, Executive Director, NAEYC (Confirmed)
• Robert Pianta, Professor, University of Virginia (Confirmed)
• Jacqueline Jones, Senior Advisor on Early Learning to the Secretary of Education, US Department of Education (Confirmed)
• Cleo Rodriguez, Executive Director, National Migrant Seasonal Head Start Association (Confirmed)
• Laura Bornfreund, Policy Analyst, Early Education Initiative at New America Foundation (Confirmed)
• Tom Schultz, Project Director for Early Childhood Initiatives, Council of Chief State School Officers (Confirmed)
• Tonya Russell, Director, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education, Arkansas Department of Human Services (Confirmed)
• Gayle Kelly, Executive Director, Minnesota Head Start Association (Confirmed)

 For more information, go here, or contact Alma Adriano at 703-739-0875

Shout-Out to OHSAI!

NHSA wants to recognize the Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. for their tremendous efforts to bring Congressional representatives into their classrooms during the August recess! OHSAI and member Head Starts from across Ohio opened their doors to demonstrate their good work. There's no doubt their impact will be felt in congress! To read more about their efforts, check out their website: http://ohsai.org/category/news/

(Photo: Congressman Ryan greets a young constituent)
If your program is working on outreach/advocacy efforts, don't be shy! Let us know so we and the community can recognize you!

FY 2012 Appropriations - House Mark-up
 
Friday, September 9, The US House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related Agencies was scheduled to hold a hearing and vote on its FY 2012 funding proposal. As of Thursday, September 8, the hearing was postponed.

We will alert you when we find out when it is rescheduled. Their proposal will outline the level of funding they intend for Head Start and will be the first real step in deciding federal funding for Head Start/Early Head Start in FY 2012. The Subcommittee can cut Head Start as much or as little as they choose, and we're all bracing for bad news.

We expect the Senate to outline their proposal next week; we'll pass on the outcomes of these decisions once they're in.

First Day!

The school bells are ringing! Nearly all Head Starts and Early Head Starts are back to school or are heading back soon. Hopefully you've already scheduled your First Day event-be sure to let us know! NHSA has press contacts across the country and can provide assistance in helping you get the kind of coverage that reminds your community and your leaders about the great work you're doing. We'd also love you to share photos and details of your events to give others ideas for the future! Email Emmalie Dropkin at edropkin@nhsa.org

Jobs Week in Washington
 
At both the national and local levels, jobs are the hot topic of political conversation, and we all know that Head Start plays a role in creating jobs, helping families get jobs, and investing in local economies. NHSA will be meeting soon with the Chamber of Commerce and we need your help to draw attention to the way Head Start works with local businesses. Please have your local business partners sign-on to our letter at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/business_sign_on_letter by September 23rd. Combined, our centers have hundreds of thousands of partners, and we want to make their support undeniable.

Are you in need of Disaster Relief?

In the last month, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes have threatened communities across the country. Since 2001, NHSA has maintained a Disaster Relief Fund to assist Head Start centers, employees and families who are victims of natural disasters. To learn more about the Fund and how to apply for assistance, go to our website.

New Regulations for IDEA-Part C Unveiled

Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) addresses how 353,000 infants and toddlers with disabilities receive intervention services. In the next few weeks, the Department of Education will be releasing revised regulations for Part C that are designed to improve confidentiality, parental consent, and efficient delivery of services. These changes will affect the Individualized Family Service Plan creation process, so all Head Start centers should be aware of them. You can read the specifics of the new regulations and about training opportunities the Department of Education is offering for service providers here: http://idea.ed.gov/part-c/search/new.

The September NHSA Family Connections newsletter is ready for you to print and distribute to your families! In this issue, Healthy Transitions focuses on the new experiences families and children face during the first weeks of school. It includes passenger safety tips for those who ride on a Head Start bus and describes the health screenings that take place in the first weeks of school. 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.

Non-Federal ("Matching") Share Webinar on 9/14/11

Join Ted Waters to review or learn the ins and outs of Non Federal Share next week on Wednesday 9/14 at 3 pm eastern time. 
 
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, 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.  

Also, don't miss our Back to School Special (valid through September 30th) that gives your 5 webinars for the price of four!