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| Letter from FHSA President & Executive Director On behalf of the Florida Head Start Association Board of Directors, Professional Development Committee and Staff we send a huge thank you to all our sponsors, exhibitors, presenters, attendees and volunteers for helping us make this year's conference a great success. We hosted over 300 attendees with a record number sponsors and exhibitors. We hope everyone left inspired and rejuvenated to get back and put what you learned into action. Visit our photo gallery to view a few highlights from this year conference. During FHSA annual business meeting, we unveiled FHSA plans for a new website. The work has begun and would love to hear what suggestions you may have before the new website is launched. If you would like to submit suggestions to help us improve our website, please reach out to Wanda Minick, FHSA Executive Director at Wanda@FLHeadStart.org. Also, during conference the Directors, Staff, Friends and Parents groups met to collaborate and elect representatives to serve on the FHSA Board of Directors as well as Florida representatives to serve on the Region IV Head Start Association Board (RIVHSA). FHSA Board of Directors had two open Directors seats due to Heidi Rand and Sharon Gaskin term ending and one Staff seat currently seated by Indra Font whose terms also ends September 30, 2018. We would like to congratulate Tim Center, Captial Area Community Action Agency Head Start and Natalie Strappy, Alachua County Public Schools for being elected to represent the Director Group on the FHSA Board of Directors and Lakysha Perkins, Gadsden County School Board to represent the Staff Group. Their terms begin October 1, 2018 - September 30, 2020. FHSA also congratulates the following who were elected to represent Florida on the RIVHSA Board.
Directors Heidi Rand, Mid Florida Community Services, Inc.
LaTanya Wynn, Lutheran Services Florida HS/EHS
Staff
Vidya Deonarine, Orange County Head Start
Angie Doucette, Brevard Public Schools
Friends Christine Samuel, ALPI Head Start/Early Head Start
Matti Friedt, Polk County School District Preschool Programs
Parents
Maritza Vasquez, Orange County Head Start
Felecia McClendon, RCMA
Elections were also held during FHSA Board of Directors meeting on April 16. Congratulations to Louis A. Finney, Jr. for being elected to serve as FHSA President and Angela Doucette as Secretary. Their terms of service will be for three years terming out September 30, 2021.
FHSA is still searching of a home for our 2019/2020 conference & expo. As soon as a venue is selected we will let you know. If you are interested in serving on the Professional Development Committee to help plan next year's conference or any of our other committees, please fill out a volunteer form. In partnership,
Louis A. Finney, Jr. Wanda Minick
FHSA President FHSA Executive Director
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FHSA Thanks Our 2018 Corporate Partners
& Confernece Sponsors Gold Level
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| FYI 2018 Head Start Funding Increase
Log Number: ACF-PI-HS-18-03 | Issuance Date: 05/01/2018
TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies
SUBJECT: FY 2018 Head Start Funding Increase
INSTRUCTION:President Trump signed Public Law 115-141, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, on March 23, 2018. Included is $9,863,095,000 for programs under the Head Start Act, an increase of $610 million over the fiscal year (FY) 2017 funding level.
Of this increase, $216 million provides grantees a 2.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), $260 million to support grantees increasing their hours of program operations, and $115 million for Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships (EHS-CCP) and Early Head Start (EHS) Expansion, which includes a 2.6 percent COLA for existing EHS-CCP and EHS Expansion grantees. Information will be provided in the coming weeks about how to apply for these funds. Click to read the program instructions in its entirety. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria Disaster Assistance Funds
Log Number: ACF-PI-HS-18-02 | Issuance Date: 04/09/2018
TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Programs Impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria
SUBJECT: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria Disaster Assistance Funds
INSTRUCTION:This Program Instruction (PI) outlines the process used to request Disaster Assistance funds to restore Head Start and Early Head Start services following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, including replacement of damaged or destroyed property and facilities. It is also intended to assist governing bodies and key management staff in determining the amount and types of assistance needed.
President Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (the Act) on February 9, 2018. The Act provides $637,500,000 in emergency funding for necessary expenses directly related to the consequences of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, including making payments under the Head Start Act. This funding is available for obligation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through September 30, 2021. Click to read this program instructions in its entirety. National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is Thursday, May 10, 2018! This annual event raises awareness about the importance of children’s mental health and its impact on their healthy development. The national theme is Partnering for Health and Hope Following Trauma. It will focus on the importance of an integrated approach to caring for the mental health needs of children and families who have experienced trauma. The Office of Head Start and the Office of Child Care will highlight best practices that support resilience for this year’s National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. More than 1,100 communities and 160 national collaborating organizations and federal programs will organize local Awareness Day 2018 activities and events around the country. Learn more about Awareness Day 2018 and how you and your community can get involved by accessing this Web link.
May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month
Join the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in partnership with the Office of Special Education Programs, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and the Office of Head Start's Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) Initiative the Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) as they host this Coffee Break webinar series, focusing on the importance of frequent hearing screenings, language development, and family engagement. This year's BHSM theme is "Communication for All." Help raise awareness about the critical need to intervene early when young children are identified with communication disorders. Click to read more.
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News from the National Level NHSA hosted their 45th annual conference in Anaheim, CA April 23-27, 20018. Salman Kahn kick off the event where he annouced the release of Khan Academy Kids. They have partened with Duck Duck Moose, an award-winning developer of educational apps for young children to lead a new initiative to develop early learning products for young children. To sign up click here.
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| NHSA also hosted their Scholarship & Awards Banquet and recognized Florida's Onome Ayemhenre, a parent with Lutheran Services Florida Duval Head Start and Early Head Start Program for being the receipient of NHSA Ron Herndon Head Start Parent Scholarship winner for 2018. During the annual dinner Taye Diggs was the receipient of NHSA Head Start Hero Award award.
Click to see highlights from the conference and awards dinner.
In conjunction with NHSA annual conference, Head Start practitioners, early childhood education innovators, and leading experts on workplace issues were invited to participate in a two-day Head Start Workforce Catalyst summit to explore innovative practices, processes, and policies to strengthen the Head Start workforce. FHSA Executive Director, Wanda Minick particpated and stated the group generated over 300 ideas and came up with tangible solutions that are not only impactful but also feasible.
Mark your calendar for NHSA next year's national conference April 29 - May 3, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas!
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| NHSA Leading Communications Initiative to Unify, Strengthen Head Start Community WASHINGTON, DC, May 3 – The National Head Start Association has launched a two-year grassroots-driven initiative to unite and strengthen the Head Start community through a common language that best communicates the mission and value of the nation’s largest early childhood development program.
The project, which will also highlight the living achievements of Head Start practitioners and programs, is being funded through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Mich. Click to read press release in its entirety.
NHSA Comment on Appointment of Dr. Bergeron to Lead Office of Head Start
WASHINGTON, DC, April 23 – The National Head Start Association, a not-for-profit organization supporting the Head Start community, issued the following statement following the announcement that Dr. Deborah Bergeron would be the next director of the Office of Head Start. Click to read press release in its entirety.
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| Legislative Activities at the State Level
2017 State of Preschool Report
The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), released their state-by-state report showing more young children enrolled in public pre-K programs nationwide, with Florida continuing to be a leader in access for 4-year-olds but ranking near the bottom on spending per child, a key contributor to program quality.
Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten program serves more than 75% of 4-year-olds in the state. Yet state funding per child is among the nation’s lowest--$2,282—under-cutting efforts to provide high-quality preschool. Florida state policy meets just two of NIEER’s 10 quality standards benchmarks. The report includes state profiles, as well as state by state rankings. Click to access detailed report information. Two Generational Approach: Focused Policies for Improved Outcomes.
The Florida Children’s Council released a statewide report that finds current policies adversely impact Florida’s low-income families. With more than four million children and youth calling Florida home, and 45% of them living in economically struggling
households, it is clear many programs designed to help families become financially stable and self-sufficient fail to work. If children from low-income homes are to reach their full potential, there is a signifcant need to eliminate the current silos addressing adult-
oriented and child-oriented programs separately. The report provides a roadmap of action to improve economic stability and child outcomes for families with young children in poverty. The analysis identified three cliffs in Florida—children’s health insurance, child care, and
housing. Access to affordable child care stands out as perhaps the singularly most important social service in recogniation of its impact on the entire family while providing
clear economic benefit to employers and communities. In short, child care is an instrumental support to parents by reducing stress, achieving personal growth through education and training, and increasing critical skills and capabilities through education and training that lead to economic and family stability. Click here to download report.
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The Florida Head Start State Collaboration Office and the Florida Head Start Association will kick off their newly established Monthly Director's Call. These calls are open to all Florida grantee and delegate directors and will be packed full of information designed to assist you with high quality progam implementation. This month's topics will include: Head Start/EHS funding increase, VPK/SR changes (House Bill 1091 & 7055), and more! Join us Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 10:00am.
If you haven't already signed up, click on the "Register Now " link below!
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Join FL HS/EHS Community MyPeers is a vibrant online community of Early Childhood professionals. Join us to share best practices and to access direct support from your Head Start Collaboration Office and Florida Head Start Association Office.
Who is on MyPeers? Your peers! Nearly 10,000 Early Childhood Professionals in Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care--growing everyday! Why would I join MyPeers? We all have questions. MyPeers is a positive and supportive community. The HSSCO and FHSA will share pertinent information to assist state continuous quality improvement!
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What's Happening Around the State
Families were bustling from painting stations to bounce houses to Imagination Fountain on Saturday morning at Cascades Park for Kidsfest.
Now in its 18th year, Kidsfest brings together kids' activities and information about community family services. There was a blow-up obstacle course, a ball pit for toddlers and performances at the amphitheater.
The free event is put on by Kids Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides Early Head Start, nutrition, health and other services to families in the Big Bend. It was created to provide family fun for the community.
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| FLAEYC is still accepting request for proposal for it's 2018 Annual Conference, "Best Practices in Early Learning for Florida's Children", which will be held September 5 -9, 2018 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, FL. Deadline to submit your RFP is May 11, 2018. FLAEYC is seeking proposals that embody this year's conference theme. Their goal is to have a broad range of workshop topics that addresses the early care and education community with the latest in research and best practice. Multiple proposals are encouraged for consideration. To get started, click here.
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May 10 - National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day June 20 - 24 FFCCHA Annual Conference, Clearwater Beach, FL
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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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