Head Start in Arkansas

1. Head Start in Arkansas Prepared by the Arkansas Head Start-State Collaboration Project

2. Overview of Project Head Start

3. Head Start History • Developed in 1964 to serve disadvantaged preschool children • Launched as a summer program in 1965 to serve 561,000 preschool children • Serve approximately 900,000 nationally--enrolled more than 22 million children since it began in 1965 • Access more information at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb

4. Early Head Start History • Created in 1994 to serve low income pregnant women, infants, and toddlers • Currently serve 61,500 nationally on an annual basis • Access more information at http://www.headstartinfo.org

5. Migrant/Seasonal Head Start History • Serve nearly 30,000 migrant children and nearly 2,500 seasonal children annually • Operate in 37 states in every region of the country • Provide extended hours service, 12 hours a day, and often 6 days a week • Have served migrant children and families since 1969 • Have served seasonal children and families since 1999 • Were the first to serve infants and toddlers

6. Purpose of Head Start/ Early Head Start/Migrant Seasonal Head Start • Providing low income birth to five children with a comprehensive program to meet their… • Emotional • Social • Education/Early Childhood Development • Health (Medical, Oral, and Mental) • Nutrition • Psychological needs • More information at http://www.headstartinfo.org/

7. Administration • Head Start is funded by the Federal Government through the Head Start Bureau • Programs are locally administered by community-based non-profit organizations, faith based organizations, and public school systems • Programs must adhere to the Head Start Program Performance Standards

8. How can I get my child into Head Start?

9. How to Apply • Contact the Head Start or Early Head Start agency serving your community • Your local Head Start agency will provide the required forms and answer questions about the program • The local agency will also help you find the Head Start Center closest to your home

10. Finding a Program • To find a local Head Start or Early Head Start program in your area, use the on-line national Head Start Program Search Tool at:http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/hsweb/index.jsp • To find a local Arkansas Head Start program, use the on-line Arkansas Head Start website at: http://www.arheadstart.org

11. Eligibility • Children from birth to age five from families with low-income • Children from families receiving public assistance (TANF or SSI) • Children in foster care • Ten percent of enrollment is reserved for children with disabilities • Children who come from families with slightly higher income may be able to participate

12. 2004 Income Guidelines Size of family unit Poverty guideline1............................................... $9,3102............................................... 12,4903.............................................. 15,6704............................................... 18,8505............................................... 22,0306............................................... 25,2107............................................... 28,3908............................................... 31,570

13. Arkansas Head Start-State Collaboration Project

14. Project Overview The purpose of the project is to create a visible presence at the state level, which can assist in the development of significant, multi-agency and public-private partnerships between Head Start and the state

15. These partnerships: • Help build early childhood systems and access to comprehensive services for all low-income children • Encourage widespread collaboration between Head Start and other appropriate programs • Facilitate the involvement of Head Start in the development of state policies, plans, processes and decisions affecting low-income families

16. Head Start State Collaboration Projects… • Play an important role in helping the Administration and the Governors make progress toward goals which improve the lives of young children • Can assist with these and other relevant state initiatives and bring the support and perspective of Head Start to the development of early childhood systems • All fifty states were funded as of 1997 

17. Collaboration grantees are… • Asked to build linkages among Head Start, child care, and health care systems in order to build an effective child development and early childhood system • Encouraged to consult broadly with the early childhood community, and in particular with the State Head Start Association, as they carry out these projects

18. The AR Head Start State Collaboration Project… • Began in 1996 • Funding flows to the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education and then to the Arkansas Head Start Association • The AR Head Start Association has the responsibility for implementing the collaboration project

19. Health (Oral/Mental) Education/ Transition Child Care Welfare Reform Professional Development Family/Early Literacy Services to Homeless Children School Readiness Social-emotional well being Priority Areas

20. Arkansas Head Start Association

21. Vision Statement As a professional organization, the Arkansas Head Start Association, a collaborative group of agencies and programs, pledges to advocate, communicate, and partner at the community and state levels to enhance and ensure the provision of high quality outcome-oriented services to children and families.

22. Mission Statement The Arkansas Head Start Association promotes leadership to local grantees in achieving the identified goals: • Striving for Excellence • Targeting At Risk Families • Building Strong Partnerships

23. Value Statements The Arkansas Head Start Association beliefs are: • All children birth through eight years have the right to be healthy and live in a safe and nurturing environment • To recognize and support diversity • A child’s family is his or her primary teacher

24. Arkansas Head Start Programs

25. Arkansas Map

26. Centers • 86 Full Day, Full Year • 148 Full Day, Part Year • 55 Part Day (less than 6 hours) • 43 Early Head Start • 7 Migrant/Seasonal Head Start • 32 Home Based • 704 Classrooms: 554 Head Start, 111 Early Head Start & 39 Migrant/Seasonal Head Start

27. BY PROGRAM 7,743 Full Day 2,095 Part Day 334 Home Based 688 Early Head Start 400 Migrant/ Seasonal Total 11,260 BY AGE 165 Pregnant Women-12 month Olds 419 One Year Olds 376 Two Year Olds 4,191 Three Year Olds 6,405 Four Year Olds 277 Five Year Olds Enrollment

28. Web Site Links • Head Start Bureau http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb • Head Start Information and Publications Center http://www.headstartinfo.org/ • Arkansas Head Start http://www.arheadstart.org