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Letter from FHSA President & Executive Director
Is it December already? Where has the time gone. The FHSA office has been busily gearing up for unveil our 2018 Annual Conference theme and launch our conference webpage. Information coming soon. Watch your in-boxes for more details.
The month of November brought sadness to the Florida Head Start community with a loss of our dear friend Dan Parravano. Dan passed away in the early morning of Thanksgiving surrounded by his family.
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Dan served as Regional Manager at Lakeshore Learning Materials and was a face we all know from our conferences and when he stops by your program for a visit. His generous heart and the love of what he did was infectious. Our Head Start family lost a wonderful person and he will never be forgotten. We continue to pray for the Parravano Family as they prepare to lay Dan to his final resting place. A memorial service will be held this Saturday, December 9, 2017 at
The Church of Jesus Christ, 5517 Berry Hill Road, Holiday, FL 34690. There will be a lunch following for family only.
A Go Fund Me page has been set up to assist the Parravano family. Click here to donate. Life brings tears, smiles, and memories. The tears dry, the smile fades, but the memories live on forever.
If you are planning to head up to Tallahassee and participate in Children's Week January 21-26, please email Wanda@FLHeadStart.org. FHSA is planning on setting up an information table and would love to have you participate.
Have your renewed your FHSA membership? Make sure you get it in to gain access to the Wage Comparability Study. Members are the vital driving force that allows FHSA to bring training services, help you connect with other Head Start | Early Head Start professionals who understand your challenges and celebrate your successes. Also, don't forget to sign up to volunteer for a committee.
In partnership,
Louis A. Finney, Jr. Wanda Minick
FHSA, President FHSA, Executive Director
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Time Running Out to Submit your Proposals
If you have been meaning to submit your paper for FHSA 2018 Annual Conference, now is the time!
This years conference will be held April 16-19 in Orlando, FL at the DoubleTree by Hilton.
FHSA is currently seeking presenters with experience in the Head Start | Early Head Start and early childhood community who can bring thoughtful, solutions-based presentations that are the cornerstone of our mission. We welcome proposals on a variety of topics to include but not limited to the following areas: - Challenging Behaviors
- Compliance & Public Policy
- Curriculum Development
- Education & Child Development
- Family & Community Engagement
- Fiscal Operations
- Infant & Toddler Services
- Health, Safety & Nutrition
- Home Visiting
- Management & Leadership
- School Readiness
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News from the National Level
NHSA staff reported out on their recent attendance at two Congressional hearings on Capitol Hill. On November 29 staff attended the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions as they questioned Alex Azar nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, the federal agency with oversight of Head Start. The nominee did not share any opinions on early childhood development during this meeting. He did however, indicate if he was confirmed his efforts would be focusing on the following four issues. 1. The high costs of drug prices. 2. Making healthcare more affordable, more available, and more tailored to what individuals need and want in their care. 3. Shifting the focus in our healthcare system from paying for procedures and sickness to paying for health and outcomes. 4. Tackling the opioid epidemic in our country.
The second hearing NHSA staff attended was regarding the opioid epidemic which included perspectives from states, communities and providers. NHSA has expressed with Congress that responding to this crisis is of highest importance in the Head Start community and will continue to work with lawmakers to ensure we are included in the conversation. If you have not completed NHSA Substance Abuse/Addicition survey, please consider doing so soon.
NHSA Winter Leadership Institute will have a major focus on the workforce issue that plagues our industry. The WLI will address the challenge head-on by focusing on supporting and strengthening Head Start’s workforce. Without the program administrators, home visitors, classroom teachers, bus drivers, cooks, and everyone else who creates a warm and welcoming environment for our nation’s youngest learners, Head Start would not exist.
This year's event will take place on January 22-25, 2018 at the Hyatt Regencey Washington on Captiol Hill. LEARN MORE.
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Head Start Association today commended the National League of Cities for passing language in their 2018 National Municipal Policy expressing strong support for preserving Head Start’s federal-to-local funding structure. READ MORE.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Head Start Association today said the latest emergency supplemental appropriations request issued today by the Trump Administration does not call for sufficient funds to meet the recovery needs of Head Start programs impacted by this year’s natural disasters. READ MORE.
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FHSA Head Start and Early Head Start Networks
Let's build a Florida Head Start and Early Head Start online community hosted on the MyPeers platform.
FHSA would like our members to come together and share resources, best practices, engage in conversations, and ask questions. If you are not already a member of MyPeers, you will need to register first. If you are a member of MyPeers, find the Florida Head Start and/or Early Head Start community under "All Communities" and select the blue "Join" button. We look forward to connecting. See you there!
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Legislative Activities at the State Level
DCF Looking For Ways To Address High Turnover Of Child Protective Investigators
...With the 2018 legislative session around the corner, Florida lawmakers as well as child welfare stakeholders are starting to dive into how to address the huge turnover of the state’s child protective investigators. Their job is to look...READ MORE.
(WFSU)
Mystery formula for early learning funds
...A lot has changed in Florida since 1999. Demographics have shifted. Some counties have seen massive population growth, some have shrunk, others have gotten poorer while some got richer. But one thing hasn’t changed... READ MORE.
(Herald Tribune)
Nat’l Republicans blasting Charlie Crist’s vote against CHIP re-authorization
...The Healthy Kids Act extends CHIP’s federal funding for five years and funding for federally qualified health centers for two years. While most House Republicans voted for the measure, most Democrats were opposed. That’s...READ MORE.
(Florida Politics)
Mike Carroll calls child protective investigators ‘heroes,’ calls for more funding
...Calling child protective investigators “absolute heroes” who are overworked and under-appreciated, the head of Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) pitched a House of Representatives committee for money to...READ MORE.
(Florida Politics)
Florida making strides in child-welfare reforms
...There is a longstanding debate over the best ways to serve children in foster care. Both in Tallahassee and in Washington, bills are introduced every year in an effort to improve the system. Last month in the U.S. Senate, Sens. Orrin...READ MORE.
(Orlando Sentinel)
Florida Chamber Foundation summit focuses on poverty, child care and education
...In a time of high growth but rising inequality, the Florida Chamber Foundation gathered business executives and community leaders Tuesday to pose a few big questions: How deep is poverty in Florida? How broad? How..READ MORE.
(Tampa Bay Times)
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What's Happening Around the State
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Mary, Mary, quite contrary
Students, Parents and Master Gardner at the Maxley Head Start Center in Winter Garden, FL hit the ground running this school year with growing vegetables. The students had their second harvest this school year. Maxey Students are getting an opportunity to experience growing food from seeds to table. The students have the opportunity to work side by side with the centers Master Gardener, Mick Lochridge every three weeks. Mr. Lochridge also provides in classroom lessons on gardening and eating healthy foods. Click here to read more.
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Orange County Head Start program celebrated Head Start Awareness Month by creating shirts and involving family and partners to bring awareness to their program. The students also celebrated by hosting a neighborhood parade. What a great way to reach out in your community and tell the Head Start story by showing them what we are all about.
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Head Start/Early Head Start program in Miami hosts Girl Scout Leaders
On Thursday, November 30 Ms. Sylvia Acevedo, CEO, Girl Scout of USA and a Head Start Alumnus along with Ms. Chelsea Wilkerson, CEO, Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, visited Centro Mater East Head Start/Early Head Start program. While on their visit they had an opportunity to interact with the children and read stories. Overall, the visit was well received, and both learned of their passion of sharing a common mission of making the world a better place for future generations.
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Steve Knobl resigns as CEO of the ELC of Hillsborough County
During his time as CEO, Dr. Knobl led the coalition through transition and rebranding. His dedication has resulted in moving the coalition toward becoming an evidenced-based, outcome-focused organization that delivers tangible positive benefits to children, families and providers in Hillsborough County. Dr. Knobl's work while with the coalition has solidified the organization's long-term sustainability and enabled continuing investment in service improvements and quality.
"The entire [coalition] staff and board want to thank Dr. Knobl for his impressive efforts as CEO," said Aakash Patel, chairman of the ELC of Hillsborough's board of directors. "I have addressed the staff and the coalition's executive committee and assured them that this will be a seamless transition." Click here to read more.
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Florida's Children's Week
Will you be participating in Florida's Children's Week January 21- 26, 2018? There are lots of great activities planned around the state that week as well as at the State Capitol in Tallahassee, FL.
For a glimpse of what events and activities you can expect at Children's Week check out this short Children's Week Preview Video and find out all the ways you can get involved.
FHSA is a Corporate Partner for this year's event and if you are planning to come to Tallahassee that week, please let us know. Will your program participate in the iconic "Hanging of the Hands" event? Deadline to submit hand art work is January 12, 2018. Art work should be sent to The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region, Northwood Centre located at 2639 N. Monroe Street, Building C, Tallahassee, FL 32303.
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Want to be featured in What's Happening Around the State?
FHSA wants to put the spotlight on our members and share the wonderful work your programs are doing. Please consider submitting articles, photos, information on events you are hosting and/or add us to your monthly newsletter distribution list. You could be featured in our monthly newsletter or on our website or through our social media platforms. All members in good standing with FHSA are invited to submit photos and/or fully written and edited articles on noteworthy news and events regarding the Florida Head Start community.
FHSA e-Newsletter is sent on the 5th of the month to our FHSA community.
Please submit your articles in a Word document and photos in a JPEG format.
Deadline to submit articles is the 20th of each month. Articles received after due date, and those that are not time-sensitive, may be printed in a subsequent newsletter.
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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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| | Don't forget... Follow FHSA on Twitter and Like us on Facebook!
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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.
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