Notes From The HSSCO

Greetings from the Washington Head Start State Collaboration Office! I’ve enjoyed meeting many of you, and I look forward to getting out on site visits this year to continue building relationships and learning about your program. In the month I’ve been here, I’ve felt so much support and kindness. I look forward to many positive partnerships and the work ahead!

As you may know, Head Start State Collaboration Offices exist to facilitate and foster partnerships among Head Start/Early Head Start agencies and other entities designed to benefit low income children and families. April and myself have started outlining the priorities of the HSSCO for this next year. In an effort to make our planning as useful as possible we would love your feedback!

As we move ahead with the planning of the Head Start State Collaboration Office work, it’s critical that we are responsive to your collective needs in the state, and that we are able to work with you to improve and maintain the quality of Head Start and Early Head Start. Open communication, access, and dialogue are important. We want to understand what barriers you’re facing, so we can work with local, state and federal partners to meet our goals and outcomes. We’ll be holding a call to discuss priorities and projects for next year.

Please take a few minutes to complete this doodle: http://doodle.com/3vrz4thmmeavg7b3

I am sincerely looking forward to meeting you and learning about your impactful work. Thank you for the difference you make in the lives of children and families every day!

~Caitlin

Training Resource Centers Now Called Comprehensive Service Coordinators

The Washington Department of Early Learning is refining  the focus of what was known as the Training Resource Center (TRC) to ensure Washington’s children have access to comprehensive services (including developmental screening, medical/dental support, behavioral health, technical assistance for children with special needs and their families, family engagement and nutrition supports). With this new focus comes a new name.  

The Early Achievers Resource Alliances will be a local partnership among entities offering support to center child care, family child care homes, ECEAP and Head Start programs in a local catchment area and will include Comprehensive Services Coordinators (CSCs – formerly TRCs), the local Child Care Aware, and other local resources identified to provide Comprehensive Services.  A CSC is a Head Start/ECEAP provider who will coordinate Comprehensive Services for all other Early Achievers participants in their catchment area to access. They will provide or subcontract the services identified in a local strengths and gaps analysis*.

The current CSC's are Kitsap Community Resources, Puget Sound ESD, Lower Columbia College, Spokane Community College, Rural Resources and INSPIRE Development Centers.

*Strengths and gap analysis as well as community partner meetings are underway for the current six CSCs and we hope to add new CSCs soon to expand comprehensive services access throughout Washington State.

For more information or to find a CSC near you contact Roxanne Garzon at Roxanne.Garzon@del.wa.gov

Next Institute: Nov. 13-16, 2014 Edward Hansen Convention Center 2000 Hewitt Ave Everett, Washington 98209 United States Register Here. For More Questions Please Contact EAIhelp@uw.edu

Early Achievers Resources for Head Start

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

Early Achievers Orientations for Head Start Grantees

As a way to support Head Start and ECEAP as they enter Early Achievers, DEL is offering a “slow rollout” for grantees and contractors. During this slow rollout, we have been working closely with 39 grantee/contractors so we can hear their thoughts and feedback on how participation in Early Achievers can enhance and support their programs, address any concerns or questions they may have, and get information about assistance we can provide along the way. We are still early in our implementation of Early Achievers and feedback is critical to having a single quality system that includes and benefits all programs!

We are currently offering our next round of  Early Achievers Orientations for Head Start and ECEAP for the fall of 2014.  We have two scheduled for the month of November: November 14th at 10:00 and November 24th at 1:00. Orientations are 90 minutes long with time for Q & A.

If you are interested in participating please contact Tracy Norris by November 12th.  

If you have more questions about Early Achievers, please contact Tracy Norris our new QRIS Integration Specialist, at Tracy.Norris@del.wa.gov . She’s happy to talk with you about next steps in Early Achievers.

New Director Coaching Initiative

In the Spring of 2013 the Office of Head Start approached the National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations with the idea of developing an initiative aimed at paring experienced Head Start Directors with New Directors in a coaching relationship. That Summer they piloted their New Directors Coaching Initiative and since that time have conducted 4 cohorts and matched 130 New Directors with Coaches. They have received considerable positive feedback as to the benefit of the experience for both coaches and new directors.

Coaches participate in a two and a half-day orientation with PMFO Staff where they practice coaching strategies and learn about Head Start A-Z materials that they can share with their New Director.  The last cohort for the 2014-2015 period will begin this December with a coach orientation to be held at the NHSA Parent Conference in New Orleans.

New Directors Will:

·        Receive bi-weekly coach support from Jan 5, 2015-May 22, 2015

·        Have access to PMFO’s new Head Start A-Z Materials

·        Host their coach for one program site visit

·        Participate in PMFO Content Calls with their coaches

·        Participate in new director networking calls for peer to peer support

Coaches Will:

·        Attend a Coach Orientation from Dec 7-9, 2014 held in conjuction with the NHSA Parent Leadership Institute in New Orleans, LA

·        Receive reimbursement for the orientation and site visit to the new director’s location, and up to $1000 stipend upon successful completion of the project

They are looking for experienced directors with more than five years in their roles to serve as coaches' and new directors with less than two years in their role to work with a coach.

For more information and to apply visit: http://pmfo.edc.org/coaching/  

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! http://www.del.wa.gov/partnerships/head-start/hssco.aspx

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!