Hello from the HSCO!

Hello from the Head Start Collaboration Office. First and foremost, thank you all for the amazing work you do every day to provide high-quality, comprehensive services to children and families across Washington. Head Start and Early Head Start are critical components to every aspect of our early learning efforts, and I appreciate your commitment to work across systems at the state, community and federal levels to provide strategies and insight for our collective work. Please let us know if you ever have any announcements or updates you would like to include in future HSCO newsletters.

Thank you, Caitlin Jensen

Input needed for an important project on developmental services

Sean Mikles, a PhD student of Biomedical and Health Informatics at the University of Washington is working on a project with the Department of Health to help design an online system to help share information on child development between people involved with identifying or addressing developmental delays, such as parents, pediatricians, and early education providers.  He is conducting a study that looks at what developmental services different stakeholders provide, how they communicate pertinent information to other stakeholders, and their information needs. He would like to invite you to participate in this study - this would consist of an interview and a survey that would take approximately 1 hour to complete, and you would be compensated for your time with $30 in Amazon gift cards. He is flexible in terms of how or when the interview will be held, and would try to work around your schedule as best as possible.

If you would be interested in participating in this study or would like more information, please feel free to contact him through e-mail at smikles@uw.edu, or  at 617-610-1507.  Thank you for your consideration!

Strengthening Families Funding Opportunity

Strengthening Families Washington at the Department of Early Learning is pleased to announce that funding will be available for community-based family support and child abuse prevention programs throughout Washington State.  We are requesting Letters of Interest from Washington State organizations engaged in child abuse prevention activities. We want to work with local communities to increase program capacity to utilize and expand the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework for children ages birth through 5.

Please share this opportunity with community partners and organizations throughout the state. We are really hoping to have great reach throughout the state.

The Letter of Interest format, application cover sheet, and more information is attached and will soon be available on our website here: http://www.del.wa.gov/development/strengthening/work.aspx.  This website will be updated with FAQs as questions come in for the funding opportunity.  Please check back regularly for updates on the FAQs.

Questions?  Email strengtheningfamilies@del.wa.gov.

February is Parent Recognition Month in Washington

February is Parent Recognition Month in Washington and Strengthening Families Washington will be hosting our annual Unsung Hero event on February 23 for the honorees and their families.  This event will honor 29 parents/primary caregivers around the state for their strength, courage and empathy within their family, community and/or schools.  Each day in the month of February a parent is recognized on Seattle's Child website.

To learn more about our 2016 Unsung Heroes visit:

http://www.seattleschild.com/Strengthening-the-Family-Washington-2016-Unsung-Hero/

Seattle Preschool Program 2016-17 application now available!

The preschool application period is now open for childre 3 or 4 years old who live in Seattle. Our first selection process will take place Friday, March 11.

Apply one of three ways:

• Online at www.seattle.gov/education The application is available in English, Spanish, Somali, Amharic, Chinese, and Vietnamese. 
• In-person at Seattle libraries, Seattle Community Centers, or Seattle Preschool Program sites. 
• Over the phone by calling 206-386-1050

Visit our website for information about our preschool sites and where sites are located.

Our application process is not first come, first served. Please visit our website for more information about how the selection process works. 

If you have any questions about the Seattle Preschool Program or the application process, please email us at preschool@seattle.gov or call at 206-386-1050. 
 

You may also call us at 206-386-1050 for help in languages other than English. 

Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®
Oral Health Education Program

Free Kits Now Available!

For 25 years, Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® has been providing Head Start children and their families with informational materials on how to make good oral health care a lifelong habit. The multicultural program was developed in accordance with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework, now the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework. It also was reviewed by Office of Head Start staff. Age-appropriate kits are available both for Head Start and Early Head Start.

Head Start

This kit is filled with oral health information and engaging activities that will connect with preschoolers. It also includes materials to help engage families in their children's oral health. Each kit contains:

Materials for the Classroom:

• Dr. Rabbit Meets a Brushalotamus big book
• Two-sided wall poster
• Teacher's Guide with classroom activities
• Bright Smiles for Children oral health digest

Take-Home Materials (25 per kit):

• Your Child's Bright Smile family booklet (Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese)
• A Bright, Healthy Smile oral health checklist (Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese)
• Colgate® kid's toothbrush and toothpaste

Early Head Start

This family-targeted kit helps staff work with parents to reinforce day-to-day steps they can take to protect their child’s gums and baby teeth. It identifies the changes to watch for during the child’s first three years and includes important information for pregnant women. Each kit contains:

• Teacher's Guide with reproducible handouts
• Key Milestones poster (Available in English and Spanish)
• 15 Bright Smiles … From the Very Beginning family booklets (Available in English and Spanish)

How to Order

Order your free kits today at http://www.Colgate2016HeadStartKit.com! Quantities are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Early Achievers Resources for Head Start

Minnette Mason, our Early Achievers Integration Specialist, is offering an Early Achievers Orientation webinar on February 26, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. You can register by clicking  here. This orientation is an overview of Early Achievers, including the components covered in the rating, and the role of the Head Start grantee. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of Washington’s quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) and also have an opportunity for Q & A. Attending an orientation is required for those assigned as the Primary QRIS contact; but the information provided is helpful to anyone who wants to know more about Early Achievers. Minnette’s role at DEL is to assist Head Start grantees or ECEAP contractors who must enroll in Early Achievers. She also provides guidance to participants who are seeking resources as they prepare for rating. If you have more questions about Early Achievers, please contact Minnette directly at minnette.mason@del.wa.gov. 

The Department of Early Learning has a webpage with resources specific to Head Start Grantees and Early Achievers. To learn more visit http://www.del.wa.gov/care/qris/EAHeadStartECEAP.aspx

Frank Ordway Joins DEL as Government Relations Director

Frank Ordway served as the Director of Government Relations for the League of Education Voters from 2008 to 2015, until he was appointed as the Assistant Director of Government and Community Relations for the Department of Early Learning (DEL). Frank has worked in non-profit and consulting for the bulk of his professional career, providing strategic planning, negotiation, staff and budget development, community outreach and policy for various organizations dedicated to public advancement. One of Frank’s top career goals is to create sustainable institutions that are both entrepreneurial and have positive, wide ranging community impact. Frank earned a MPA in Public Affairs, Political Science and Women’s Studies from the University of Washington in 2006.

UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program

June 20–July 1, 2016
Los Angeles, CA

Apply Online Now!

Applications are now available for the 2016 UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Program. This 12-day intensive leadership and management development training session will be held June 20–July 1, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. The program is designed to develop and strengthen the skills of Head Start directors and managers. The 80+ hours of classroom instruction includes lectures, group discussions, case studies, and workshops. Designed from a strategic planning perspective, the curriculum focuses on applying current management concepts to relevant Head Start needs and interests.

Graduates of the Fellows Program are awarded a certificate from UCLA. They also are given the option of receiving academic-level credits at an additional cost. The program was sponsored previously by Johnson & Johnson from 1991–2015. It has enhanced the management and leadership capabilities of more than 1,400 Head Start directors and managers nationwide.

This program will benefit an array of audiences, including: All Head Start and Early Head Start directors and managers who have a minimum of two years tenure in their current position, as well as a leadership role in a local, state, or regional community organization. Participation in a community organization does not need to be current. In addition, participants must identify a “co-participant” who will attend the final two and a half days of the program. The co-participant is identified as the participant’s supervisor or board chair. Two-person teams from the same program also are eligible to apply (limited number selected).

Select the link to review the brochure and to download an application:
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/centers/price-center-for-entrepreneurship-and-innovation/for-professionals/head-start-management-fellows-program

Completed applications must be submitted by March 25, 2016. Accepted participants will be notified by April 25, 2016.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact Jeanette Boom at 310-825-6306, or by email at jeanette.boom@anderson.ucla.edu.

To learn more about the UCLA Head Start Management Fellows Programs, visit
www.anderson.ucla.edu/price/jnj/headstart.

Career Opportunities

Lower Columbia College Head Start and ECEAP Director Sandy Junker has announced her retirement from her position. While we are all going to miss her dearly, she has asked us to send this employment opportunity near and wide so that LCC has a great chance of finding a qualified applicant to replace her.

You can find more information here: http://lcc.ctc.edu/info/webresources2/HumanResources/JobsAtLCC/Director_Jan16.pdf

Jobs at DEL:

Washington is hiring an Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Administrator. This is an exciting opportunity to set the vision and implement an expansion plan related to high-quality, state-funded pre-kindergarten as we work to serve all eligible children by fall 2020. Find out more about the job here.

Early Learning Guidelines Available Online

The Department of Early Learning (DEL), in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Thrive by Five Washington, published the Early Learning and Development Guidelines (guidelines) for children from birth through third grade. The guidelines replace the Early Learning and Development Benchmarks, which were first created in 2005 to outline what children know and are able to do at different stages of their development. The Guidelines are available in English and Spanish. Download an electronic copy here. Hard copies of the Guidelines are free of charge, but people who order are responsible to pay for handling and shipping. Order them at myprint.wa.gov

Contact Us!

We're on the web! www.del.wa.gov/partnerships/head-start

If you have suggestions for future newsletter topics or feedback/questions regarding any of the HSSCO's activities, please contact DEL's HSSCO Project Coordinator April Messenger at (360) 725-3517 or April.Messenger@del.wa.gov

We spotlight programs that are doing special events or initiatives in our newsletters. If you know of a program that deserves a spotlight, please email us!