Newsletter                               June  2018
Letter from FHSA President & Executive Director 
May was a great month as Head Starts everywhere celebrated Head Start' 53rd birthday and our everyday champions who work tirelessly advancing and advocating Head Starts mission of providing early learning access to our most vulnerable children & families. This month features highlights from annual awards programs held around the state honoring those who give in a welcoming spirit and who believe every child regardless of circumstance at birth deserves an opportunity to succeed in school and in life. 
On May 31 our friend and colleague Demond L. Spann, Region IV T/TA Coordinator, Region IV Office of Head Start resigned from his position in pursuit of a new opportunity. I know you all will join us in wishing Demond the best of luck in his new endeavor.
June 1 kicks off hurricane season and lasts 5 months. As with every hurricane season regardless of forecast, knowing the essentials of how to prepare could truly be a life saver. Between June 1 - 7 Florida is offering a tax-free holiday on hurricane supplies. Now is the time to prepare and re-evaluate your preparedness plans. ECLKC has some disaster or emergency resources for you in helping you prepare. Click here to view. 
During the 2018 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed two bills HB 1091 and HB 7055 that could have major impact on Head Start programs. We hope you are getting involved and participating in the public hearings and workshops.  Our participation is imperative as these changes could have significate impact. Additional information about these workshops can be found below in this newsletter. 
In partnership, 

Louis A. Finney, Jr.       Wanda Minick 
FHSA President              FHSA Executive Director 

Office of Head Start
Emergency Preparedness and Oral Health
Head Start programs and families might not consider oral health when preparing for or recovering from an emergency or disaster. Being prepared and knowing how to respond to urgent oral health problems may help make an injured child more comfortable.  Check out Brush Up on Oral Health newsletter on how to prepare for oral emergencies before a situation occurs, as well as how to deal with some oral health challenges that staff may face after a disaster. It also provides a recipe for a healthy snack that can be made in a Head Start classroom or at home.
The Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) National Research Conference on Early Childhood, is being held from June 25 through 27. The conference is free and is being held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott hotel in Arlington, Virginia. For more information, additional hotel options, and registration details, please access this Web link. 
Click on this link to download registration flyer!

News from the National Level
NHSA’s Data-Use Optimization Project Selected As Early Childhood Innovation Prize “Top Idea”

Gary Community Investments Will Help Accelerate Project’s Development

WASHINGTON, DC May 23, 2018 — Among the 15 breakthrough solutions named the Early Childhood Innovation Prize’s “Top Ideas” is a practitioner-driven infrastructure project to increase the ability of Head Start programs to use data to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families, the National Head Start Association announced. 

The project, “Helping Children Thrive Through Community-Led Outcome Metrics,” has been selected from more than 570 ideas submitted from innovators in 100 countries through OpenIDEO’s prize platform. The capacity-building project is a collaboration between NHSA and the impact-driven data technology company BrightHive and is being supported by Gary Community Investments(GCI) to help accelerate its impact. Click to read the press release in its entirety. 
Funding Opportunity: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Grants
HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is currently accepting applications for the fiscal year 2018 Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Grant Program. Agencies or organizations who are eligible to apply must serve children from birth to not more than 12 years of age, who are at risk for, show early signs of, or have been diagnosed with a mental illness, including a serious emotional disturbance. The purpose of this program is to improve outcomes for these children by developing, maintaining, and enhancing services for infant and early childhood mental health promotion, intervention, and treatment.
HB 1091 requires the Office of Early Learning to develop an assessment measuring preschools’ quality of teacher-child interactions, including emotional and behavioral support, as well as engaged support for learning, classroom organization and instructional support for children ages birth to 5 years.
Quality measures would include a minimum threshold. If preschools don’t meet it, they eventually could lose state funding. If they greatly exceed the standards, preschools could receive up to a 20 percent boost in funding.

At the same time, preschools would be asked to measure student achievement so the state can begin to collect data on what kinds of programs work best. Preschools that participate in the student achievement process would get an extra 5 percent funding.

By 2020, the state would create, for the first time, a common assessment tool for preschoolers consistent with the one it uses when children enter kindergarten to determine how prepared they are. Those metrics are important so educators can serve children as they progress in grade school. Click to read more.
HB 7055 provides early learning coalitions the option to refuse to contract with a provider for delivery of the School Readiness Program (SR) and Volunatary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) or revoke the provider's eligibility to deliver the SR Program and VPK Program if the provider has been cited for a class I violation by the Department of Children and Families. Rodney MacKinnon, Executive Director, Office of Early Learning released a memorandum April 3, 2018 regarding the implementation of Class I violations provisions as it relates to early learning child care contracts. Click to read memo. 
 FL HSCO Needs Assesment Summary 
The Florida Head Start State Collaboration Office released its 2018 Needs Assessment Summary to help gain HS/EHS program's perspective as it relates to the federal, regional, and local priorities. Forty-eight out of 60 programs responded. The results will assist with the direction of the HSCO for 2018/2019. Click here to download the summary.
Missed Florida Head Start State Collaboration Office quarterly newsetter?  Click to view May 2018 edition.   
If you would like to receive a copy of these quarterly reports to your inbox, subscribe here. Complete the "Subscribing to Head Start" section only and then click submit.  
Be one of the first 100 to join FL HS-EHS Community and entered into a raffle drawing for a $50 gift card.
Don't miss out on information. Sign up to join our online Community! This vibrant online collabortive community is designed to connect Head Start and Early Head Start professionals to share best practices and is your direct access to information shared by Florida's Head Start Collaboration Office (HSSCO) and the Florida Head Start Association Office (FHSA).  
Click here to sign up. If you would like to access the MyPeers website, click here. 
Download our MyPeers handout here.

Florida VPK Logo
2016-2017 VPK Provider Readiness Rates
OEL releases readiness rates based on new assessment tool
The Office of Early Learning announced on May 16, 2018, the State Board of Education approved Rule 6M-8.601, F.A.C., Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate. As a result, each provider's 2016-17 VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate has been released on the VPK Program Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate Website, which is publicly searchable. 

The Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) tool used to create the 2016-17 readiness rate, Star Early Literacy, is new and therefore the score standard is new. To be considered ready for kindergarten, a child's score must be at least 500. Click here to read the FAQ about FLKRS.

For the 2016-17 and 2017-18 Readiness Rate, no new providers will be placed on probation. However, a readiness rate of less than 60 is low performing and providers should strongly consider rigorous, yet developmentally appropriate improvements to their VPK instructional practices for the 2018-19 program year. Click here to read the Readiness Rate FAQ. 


Questions may be sent to vpkquestions@oel.myflorida.com or 1-866-447-1159.

There have already been a series of School Readiness Rule Development Workshops concerning Rule 6M-4.740 Program Assessment Requirements for the School Readiness Programs.  Here's what you missed. 
The first round of workshops consisted of getting feedback on a few proposed rules concerning HB 1091 which passed this legislative session. OEL is seeking input from the general public. To view slide deck from the webinar click here. 
The next round of workshops are listed below: 

June 11, 2018, from 6 to 7 p.m. The rule workshop is being held in person at the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, 6800 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Suite 134, Training Room B, Tampa, FL. The workshop will not be accessible via webinar or call-in.

June 13, 2018, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The rule workshop is being held in person at the Office of Early Learning, 250 Marriott Dr., Powerball Room, Tallahassee, FL 32399. The workshop will not be accessible via webinar or call-in.

June 14, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. via webinar. To register, please click here.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
There will be a rule workshop for Rule 6M-9.115 Procedures and Criteria for Approval of School Readiness Plans. There are several opportunities to participate in the workshop webinars at the following dates and times:

Tuesday, June 5, 2018, from 3 to 4:00 p.m. To register please click here.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. To register please click here.

Thursday, June 7, 2018, from 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. To register please click here.

Thursday, June 7, 2018, from 3 to 4:00 p.m. To register please click here.

After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar.  
Click here to view draft materials. 
For a complete listing of all upcoming OEL public workshops and hearings and to sign up for notifications click here.
What's Happening Around the State

CALLING ALL SCHOOL READINESS PROVIDERS!

You are invited to apply for the 18-19 Early Learning Performance Funding Project (ELPFP) 2018- 2019. Now in its fifth year, this project is designed to reward providers for achieving or maintaining a high level of quality as indicated by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS.) Research conducted by the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center indicated a number of benefits to providers in the project such as improved teacher knowledge, implementation of effective teaching practices, improved teacher child interactions and an improved classroom climate all leading to a higher standard of care for children. Take advantage of the strategies offered to improve the quality of teacher - child interaction in your center and improvide child outcomes.  Applications are being accepted May 30, 2018, and closes June 15, 2018.
To apply for the 2018-2019 Early Learning Performance Funding Project click here.
Watch webinar to learn more about this project.
 2018 FFCCHA EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION EXTENDED
FFCCHA has extended their early bird registration to Wednesday, June 6. They have a great line up of pre-conference classes, keynotes and workshops! Check out their conference webpage.

Dual County Annual Awards 

On May 14, 2018 LSF Duval held their annual "Head Start Super Heroes" Volunteer Luncheon at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church.  This years event featured the very talented and determined Head Start Children from Don Brewer Head Start. The event was emceed by Mrs. Melanie Lawson of WJXT.
Mrs. Idella Patterson was honored during the luncheon for her 35 years of service. Attendees were encouraged to don their "red cape." Here are a few photos from this years event. 
Pinellas County Head Start also hosted their 2nd Annual Head Start Advantage Awards Luncheon on May 15, 2018 at the The Saint Petersburg Coliseum. The event recognized supporters throughout the year for the Pinellas County Head Start program and helps raise awareness about the services they provide in their community.  Here are just a few photo highlights from the luncheon. 
LSF’S Step for Success Shoe Drive for Foster Kids
Largo, FL – May was Foster Care Awareness Month and Lutheran Services Florida has been working to raise awareness about kids in foster care with a shoe drive, Step For Success. With the help of the community, they have collected over 457 pairs of shoes!  Their goal is to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes to represent the number of kids LSF serves through this program. Click here to learn more.
One Goal Summer Conference Logo
Join Us for the 2018 One Goal Summer Conference!

  We hope you’re making plans to join us for the One Goal Summer Conference on July 18-20 in Tampa at the Hilton Tampa Downtown Hotel.

The conference begins with keynote speaker, Dr. John Hodge, a passionate, informative, inspirational speaker who will leave you with a sense of renewal and excitement.  The Closing General Session features keynote speaker, Dr. Debbie Silver, a motivating, high energy speaker, whose presentations are described as “where learning collides with laughter” as she addresses both the art and heart of teaching.  You will leave energized!

There will also be 96 exciting and educational presentations! 

Registration for the conference is only $75 per person and made possible by so many generous sponsors who work hard to keep our costs low so that everyone can benefit. Click the links below for additional conference information. 

Register for the One Goal Summer Conference

Download the One Goal Conference Brochure

Download the Conference Schedule for a Listing of Workshops


Make your hotel reservations early to guarantee availability and conference rates.  The last two years has sold out prior to cutoff date.

Make a Hotel Reservation Hilton Tampa Downtown

If you have any questions or need assistance registering, please do not hesitate to call the Conference office at (850) 893-6270.
This program is proven to help moms and babies—so why aren’t we investing in it more?
How home-visiting could improve outcomes for at-risk children
TAMPA, Fla. — Jamir Green wobbled through his living room in a red car-shaped baby walker with a balloon attached. His mother, Tiara Jones, didn’t take her eyes of her exuberant 8-month-old as she reported to the nurse sitting on the couch that breastfeeding was going well.

Polita Williams, in pink and brown scrubs, her hair pulled back in a tight bun, looked at a checklist on her lap and asked if Jamir had been to the emergency room for any reason in the past few weeks. They discussed birth control options and whether Jones could take medication while breastfeeding. Click to read the artcile in its entirety. 

Employment Opportunities
Pre-Kindergarten Program - Head Start Classroon Manager Assistant |  School Board of Martin County

Teacher I-CDA
| Episcopal Children’s Services
Teacher Assistant | Lutheran Services Florida Head Start/Early Head Start
Disability Services Specialist | Mid Florida Community Services, Inc.

Are you hirinig? Submit your job posting to FHSA to ensure you attract the top applicants in state.  This is a free member benefit. 

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To enhance and support the capability of local Head Start programs
in the delivery of high quality services for our children and families.

Contact Us
Florida Head Start Association | info@FlHeadStart.org |  (850) 694-6477
111 N. Gadsden Street, Suite 200 | Tallahassee, FL 32301 US
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