Head Start in ArkansasHead Start in Arkansas

Prepared by the Arkansas Prepared by the Arkansas Head Start-State Head Start-State Collaboration ProjectCollaboration Project

Overview of Project Head Overview of Project Head StartStart

Head Start HistoryHead Start History

• Developed in 1964 to serve disadvantaged Developed in 1964 to serve disadvantaged preschool childrenpreschool children

• Launched as a summer program in 1965 to serve Launched as a summer program in 1965 to serve 561,000 preschool children561,000 preschool children

• Serve approximately 900,000 nationally--enrolled Serve approximately 900,000 nationally--enrolled more than 22 million children since it began in more than 22 million children since it began in 19651965

• Access more information at Access more information at http://www.http://www.acfacf..hhshhs.gov/programs/hsb.gov/programs/hsb

Early Head Start HistoryEarly Head Start History

• Created in 1994 to serve low income Created in 1994 to serve low income pregnant women, infants, and toddlerspregnant women, infants, and toddlers

• Currently serve 61,500 nationally on an Currently serve 61,500 nationally on an annual basisannual basis

• Access more information at Access more information at http://www.headstartinfo.orghttp://www.headstartinfo.org

Migrant/Seasonal Head Migrant/Seasonal Head Start HistoryStart History

• Serve nearly 30,000 migrant children and nearly Serve nearly 30,000 migrant children and nearly 2,500 seasonal children annually 2,500 seasonal children annually

• Operate in 37 states in every region of the country Operate in 37 states in every region of the country • Provide extended hours service, 12 hours a day, Provide extended hours service, 12 hours a day,

and often 6 days a week and often 6 days a week • Have served migrant children and families since Have served migrant children and families since

1969 1969 • Have served seasonal children and families since Have served seasonal children and families since

1999 1999 • Were the first to serve infants and toddlers Were the first to serve infants and toddlers

Purpose of Head Start/ Purpose of Head Start/ Early Head Start/Early Head Start/Migrant Seasonal Head StartMigrant Seasonal Head Start

• Providing low income birth to five children Providing low income birth to five children with a comprehensive program to meet with a comprehensive program to meet their…their…– EmotionalEmotional– SocialSocial– Education/Early Childhood DevelopmentEducation/Early Childhood Development– Health (Medical, Oral, and Mental)Health (Medical, Oral, and Mental)– NutritionNutrition– Psychological needsPsychological needs– More information at More information at

http://www.headstartinfo.org/http://www.headstartinfo.org/

AdministrationAdministration

• Head Start is funded by the Federal Head Start is funded by the Federal Government through the Head Start BureauGovernment through the Head Start Bureau

• Programs are locally administered by Programs are locally administered by community-based non-profit organizations, community-based non-profit organizations, faith based organizations, and public school faith based organizations, and public school systemssystems

• Programs must adhere to the Head Start Programs must adhere to the Head Start Program Performance StandardsProgram Performance Standards

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

How to ApplyHow to Apply

• Contact the Head Start or Early Head Start Contact the Head Start or Early Head Start agency serving your communityagency serving your community

• Your local Head Start agency will provide the Your local Head Start agency will provide the required forms and answer questions about the required forms and answer questions about the programprogram

• The local agency will also help you find the The local agency will also help you find the Head Start Center closest to your homeHead Start Center closest to your home

Finding a ProgramFinding a Program

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

• To find a local Arkansas Head Start To find a local Arkansas Head Start program, use the on-line Arkansas Head program, use the on-line Arkansas Head Start website at: Start website at: http://www.arheadstart.orghttp://www.arheadstart.org

EligibilityEligibility

• Children from birth to age five from families Children from birth to age five from families with low-incomewith low-income

• Children from families receiving public Children from families receiving public assistance (TANF or SSI)assistance (TANF or SSI)

• Children in foster careChildren in foster care• Ten percent of enrollment is reserved for Ten percent of enrollment is reserved for

children with disabilitieschildren with disabilities• Children who come from families with slightly Children who come from families with slightly

higher income may be able to participatehigher income may be able to participate

2004 Income Guidelines2004 Income Guidelines

Size of family unit Size of family unit Poverty guideline Poverty guideline

1............................................... $9,3101............................................... $9,3102............................................... 12,4902............................................... 12,4903.............................................. 15,6703.............................................. 15,6704............................................... 18,8504............................................... 18,8505............................................... 22,0305............................................... 22,0306............................................... 25,2106............................................... 25,2107............................................... 28,3907............................................... 28,3908............................................... 31,5708............................................... 31,570

Arkansas Head Start-State Arkansas Head Start-State Collaboration ProjectCollaboration Project

Project OverviewProject Overview

The purpose of the project is to create a The purpose of the project is to create a visible presence at the state level, which visible presence at the state level, which

can assist in the development of can assist in the development of significant, multi-agency and public-significant, multi-agency and public-

private partnerships between Head Start private partnerships between Head Start and the stateand the state

These partnerships:These partnerships:

• Help build early childhood systems and access Help build early childhood systems and access to comprehensive services for all low-income to comprehensive services for all low-income childrenchildren

• Encourage widespread collaboration between Encourage widespread collaboration between Head Start and other appropriate programsHead Start and other appropriate programs

• Facilitate the involvement of Head Start in the Facilitate the involvement of Head Start in the development of state policies, plans, processes development of state policies, plans, processes and decisions affecting low-income familiesand decisions affecting low-income families

Head Start State Head Start State Collaboration Projects…Collaboration Projects…

• Play an important role in helping the Play an important role in helping the Administration and the Governors make Administration and the Governors make progress toward goals which improve the lives progress toward goals which improve the lives of young childrenof young children

• Can assist with these and other relevant state Can assist with these and other relevant state initiatives and bring the support and initiatives and bring the support and perspective of Head Start to the development perspective of Head Start to the development of early childhood systems of early childhood systems

• All fifty states were funded as of 1997 All fifty states were funded as of 1997 

Collaboration grantees Collaboration grantees are…are…

• Asked to build linkages among Head Asked to build linkages among Head Start, child care, and health care systems Start, child care, and health care systems in order to build an effective child in order to build an effective child development and early childhood systemdevelopment and early childhood system

• Encouraged to consult broadly with the Encouraged to consult broadly with the early childhood community, and in early childhood community, and in particular with the State Head Start particular with the State Head Start Association, as they carry out these Association, as they carry out these projectsprojects

The AR Head Start State The AR Head Start State Collaboration Project…Collaboration Project…

• Began in 1996Began in 1996

• Funding flows to the Department of Funding flows to the Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care Human Services, Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education and then and Early Childhood Education and then to the Arkansas Head Start Association to the Arkansas Head Start Association

• The AR Head Start Association has the The AR Head Start Association has the

responsibility for implementing the responsibility for implementing the collaboration projectcollaboration project

Priority AreasPriority Areas

• Health (Oral/Mental)Health (Oral/Mental)

• Education/ TransitionEducation/ Transition

• Child CareChild Care • Welfare ReformWelfare Reform

• Professional Professional DevelopmentDevelopment

• Family/Early LiteracyFamily/Early Literacy

• Services to Homeless Services to Homeless ChildrenChildren

• School ReadinessSchool Readiness • Social-emotional well Social-emotional well

beingbeing

Arkansas Head Start Arkansas Head Start AssociationAssociation

Vision StatementVision Statement

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

services to children and families.services to children and families.

Mission StatementMission Statement

The Arkansas Head Start Association The Arkansas Head Start Association promotes leadership to local grantees in promotes leadership to local grantees in achieving the identified goals:achieving the identified goals:

• Striving for ExcellenceStriving for Excellence

• Targeting At Risk FamiliesTargeting At Risk Families

• Building Strong PartnershipsBuilding Strong Partnerships

Value StatementsValue Statements

The Arkansas Head Start Association beliefs are:The Arkansas Head Start Association beliefs are:

• All children birth through eight years have the All children birth through eight years have the right to be healthy and live in a safe and right to be healthy and live in a safe and nurturing environmentnurturing environment

• To recognize and support diversityTo recognize and support diversity

• A child’s family is his or her primary teacherA child’s family is his or her primary teacher

Arkansas Head Start Arkansas Head Start ProgramsPrograms

Arkansas Map

CentersCenters

• 86 Full Day, Full Year86 Full Day, Full Year• 148 Full Day, Part Year148 Full Day, Part Year• 55 Part Day (less than 6 hours)55 Part Day (less than 6 hours)• 43 Early Head Start43 Early Head Start• 7 Migrant/Seasonal Head Start7 Migrant/Seasonal Head Start• 32 Home Based32 Home Based

• 704 Classrooms: 554 Head Start, 111 Early 704 Classrooms: 554 Head Start, 111 Early Head Start & 39 Migrant/Seasonal Head Head Start & 39 Migrant/Seasonal Head Start Start

EnrollmentEnrollmentBY PROGRAMBY PROGRAM

• 7,743 Full Day7,743 Full Day

• 2,095 Part Day2,095 Part Day

• 334 Home Based334 Home Based

• 688 Early Head Start688 Early Head Start

• 400 Migrant/ Seasonal 400 Migrant/ Seasonal

• Total 11,260 Total 11,260

BY AGEBY AGE

• 165 Pregnant Women-12 165 Pregnant Women-12 month Oldsmonth Olds

• 419 One Year Olds419 One Year Olds

• 376 Two Year Olds376 Two Year Olds

• 4,191 Three Year Olds4,191 Three Year Olds

• 6,405 Four Year Olds6,405 Four Year Olds

• 277 Five Year Olds277 Five Year Olds

Web Site LinksWeb Site Links

• Head Start Bureau Head Start Bureau http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsbhttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb

• Head Start Information and Publications Head Start Information and Publications Center http://www.headstartinfo.org/Center http://www.headstartinfo.org/

• Arkansas Head Start Arkansas Head Start http://www.arheadstart.org http://www.arheadstart.org