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Letter from FHSA President & Executive Director
We hope everyone had a safe and happy July 4th holiday with your family and friends. Now it's time to focus on the second half of the year to finish with a BANG!
This month, the FHSA Board of Directors will meet on July 17 and the Directors Group will meet on July 18 as a pre-conference for the One Goal Summer Conference happening in Tampa. FL For more information about these events, please visit our calender of events webpage.
Have you checked out the new redesigned website for ECKLC? The new site launched in mid-June and offers a more user-friendly interface, easy-to-locate resources, a robust search engine, and much more. The optimized features for an improved experience for Head Start staff and families, as well as the larger early childhood community. We encourage you to check it out.
On June 14, the Office of Early Learning hosted a VPK conference call. Their staff provided an update on the Transition to Kindergarten Focus Group prioritized topics: communication and social and emotional development and it's action plan. While the meeting took place a local artist developed this amazing artwork depicting the meetings focus and actions. Click here to check it out. OEL staff also provided an update on the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener, (FLKRS). FLKRS is used to calculate the kindergarten readiness rates for the VPK Program. Beginning with the 2017-18 school year, the FLKRS assessment will be administered through Star Early Literacy®, which will replace the FLKRS Work Sampling System (FLKRS-WSS). Here are some FAQ's shared with us on the call. The next VPK conference call will be July 12 at 1:30 p.m. If you would like to join their next call please conact vpkquestions@oel.myflorida.com.
Don't forget... submit your award nominations to the FHSA office via email Wanda@FlHeadStart.org no later than Thursday, July 20, 2017 by 5:00 p.m. Florida has some outstanding and well deserving Head Start and Early Head Start employees, parents, alumni, volunteers and partners. Let's ensure Florida is well represented and get those nominations sent in. More details about the awards and scholarship program is below.
We hope you are enjoying these monthly newsletters. If you would like to contribute, please reach out to Wanda Minick at Wanda@FlHeadStart.org or (850) 694-6477. We would like to highlight what is happening around the state and showcasing our members. If you have an idea for something new, let us know that too.
Take care,
Louis A. Finney, Jr. Wanda Minick
Louis A. Finney, Jr. Wanda Minick
FHSA President FHSA Executive Director
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Award /Scholarship Program
Region IV and the National Head Start Association are seeking nominations to honor Head Start and Early Head Start employees, parents, alumni, volunteers and partners for their tireless commitment to the Head Start community. This year, Region IV has added 8 new region-specific categories for Grantees.Grantees interested in nominating for any of the Region IV categories are asked to remit them directly to the FHSA office no later than Thursday, July 20, 2017 by 5:00 p.m. eastern time to Wanda@FlHeadStart.org. Region IV has extended their original deadline to allow you more time to submit nomiations. FHSA Awards committee will review all submissions to ensure they meet eligibility requirements and submit to Region IV by their July 31, 2017 deadline.
We hope each Grantee agency submits a nomination from each category for consideration. All nominations will be recognized at the State level during our October meeting.
If you have any questions about the process feel free to reach out to the FHSA office directly at (850) 694-6477.
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News from the
National Level
The National Head Start Association, (NHSA) is gearing up for their 2017 Fall Leadeship Institute. This event will take place September 25-28, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, just a few miles from the White House and the Capitol Building. The event will start early to accommodate a huge amount of content - be sure to arrive in D.C. before 10 am on Monday
NHSA's Fall Leadership Institute is important not only because it offers informative sessions, engaging panels, and invaluable networking events, but because it also provides the opportunity to meet with Members of Congress. The Government Affairs team will make sure attendees have all the resources necessary to schedule Hill meetings with your Members of Congress during the week of the Institute. These meetings are critical to maintaining a strong working relationship with Congress and making sure that Head Start's voice is heard.
During this year'Fs Institute, not only will there be the normal sessions focused on pressing policy issues, advocacy challenges and the opportunity to hear from senior staff from the Office of Head Start (OHS) but we are also offering a unique experience for Head Start parents from every state. The Parents as Leaders Training is an unparalleled day-and-a-half educational training. Click here to read more.
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Legislative Activities at the State LevelFlorida Gov. Scott Wants Changes to Senate Health Care Bill
...Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday immersed himself again into the political fray over health care as he went to Washington, D.C., to ask top Republicans to make key changes to a proposed Senate bill to overhaul the Affordable Care...(WLRN) Florida’s congressional delegation holds hearing on human trafficking
...Florida’s congressional delegation held a meeting Wednesday in Washington, D.C., to discuss the growing problem of human trafficking in the state. Florida ranks third in the nation, behind California and Texas...(Herald-Tribune)
Updated: Notice of Proposed Rule for 65C-20, F.A.C. Family Day Care Home and Large Family Child Care Home
The Department of Children and Families, Office of Child Care Regulation filed a Notice of Proposed Rule for Chapter 65C-20, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) regarding Family Day Care Home and Large Family Child Care Home Standards on June 21, 2017 in the Florida Administrative Weekly (FAW). A copy of the rule language and incorporated documents are below for your review.
If a written request for a hearing is received by the department within 21 days of the notification in the FAW, the department will host a public hearing via webinar on July 13, 2017 5:30PM -7:00PM EST, or the conclusion of business, whichever is earlier. To register for the webinar please click on the following link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1526198389136462594.
Please be advised that registering for this webinar does not constitute a request for public hearing. The webinar will only be held if requested.
Written requests regarding the proposed rule may be sent to Cindy Campbell at Cynthia.Campbell@myflfamilies.com.
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Region IV Board Meeting Update
by Angie Doucette, FHSA Board Member
From left to right, Mattie Friedt, Vidya Deonarine, Heidi Rand, Angie Doucette
In June, Charleston, South Carolina welcomed Board members from all eight of the states represented on the Region IV Board. Board members facilitated committee meetings in the following areas: Awards/Scholarships, Bylaws/Nominations, Finance/Fundraising, Issues/Advocacy, Child Advocacy Fund, Membership, and Training/Technical Assistance. During the full Board meeting, both old and new business was discussed.
Executive Director, Myra Ingram shared that there is an alarming trend toward the use of corporal punishment in our region. In order to offer professional development and increase awareness on the effects of corporal punishment, Devereaux will be launching a webinar series on the subject of resiliency. RIVHSA will receive a residual from the sale of subscriptions to the Devereaux series which will launch by September 2017. Interested grantees should be on the look-out for a promo prior to the launch of the full series.
WellCare, a health care provider who partners with Medicaid, currently available in 6 of the 8 Region IV states (soon to offer services in the other two states), will provide a $12,000 buy in as a RIVHSA corporate sponsor. WellCare offers resources such as health education, scholarships and mini-grants, and spokespersons in fields of interest to Head Start who are eager share at Region IV events. Read More.
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What's Happening Around the State
The Lutheran Services Florida Head Start program held their Annual Head Start Advantage: Awards and Awareness Luncheon in St. Petersburg in May at the Coliseum. Lutheran Services Florida honored individuals and organizations who has supported, volunteered and donated to the program this past year. These awards recognized those unsung heroes in the community that have had a positive impact on the lives of our children and families. Parents were also honored at the festivities for their continuous dedication to the Head Start program and their child's education success.
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The afternoon was filled with plenty of notable attendees. The event opened up with the Mayor of St. Petersburg, Rick Kriseman, welcoming our guests with a speech. As we honored the volunteers and community partners our guests were treated to a buffet style lunch and entertainment by our very own Head Start students from the Jordan Park Center. Greeting were also provided by the Executive Director of the FHSA (Florida Head Start Association), Wanda Minick, as she took the stage, followed by the Occasion by our very own Executive Vice President of Lutheran Services Florida, Louis A. Finney, Jr.
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LeJardin Early Learning Academy planned a field trip to the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science with their Head Start children as well as investigate the concept of sink or float during their Early Childhood Hands On Science (ECHOS) time. Hands-on science activities and investigations are essential components of any early childhood setting, and they help lay the foundation for life-long learning and healthy development. Read More.
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As another school year for most comes to an end, it's time for agencies to help prepare their parents with activities they can coordinate with their children for the upcoming summer months. Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. 4C did just that by providing their parents with some wonderful suggested activities in their most recent newsletter. Ideas they provided were a trip to the zoo, museum, or a family photo night. They also provided some great ways to help transition your child to kindergarten. Read More. OEL VPK Provider ID: Technical Assistance for Early Learning Coalitions Beginning Mar. 15, 2017, VPK providers will no longer request a provider ID through the Bright Beginnings website. The early learning coalition (ELC) will request the provider ID from the Office of Early Learning and the ELC will supply the provider with the provider ID once it is assigned. Read More.
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The Benefits of Farm to School
Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education sites. Farm to school empowers children and their families to make informed food choices while strengthening the local economy and contributing to vibrant communities. Read More.
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Employement Opportunities
Lutheran Services Florida
Lutheran Services Florida Children & Head Start Services
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