December 12, 2007 was the official date of the reauthorization of Head Start – the last reauthorization occurred in 1998. Under the new reauthorization many changes have impacted our Head Start Performance Standards; some have quoted over 300. In preparation for these changes, we have attended trainings offered by regional office representatives and other professionals to assist us with the implementation of these new regulations affecting our program in your community.
One of the more interesting changes for me is the change that allows a program to convert preschool slots to infant/toddler slots. In my opinion, this change is here to gently guide us toward serving more children ages birth to 3 while leaving the 4 year olds to be served through Universal Pre-K. Under the new reauthorization there is a performance standard that states ‘if a program can prove that there is a greater need for Early Head Start 0-3, than for children ages 3-5 in your catchment area, you could convert a number of slots from 3-5 to 0-3’. However, the trade-off is unequal in funding because the difference in funding birth to 3 programming is 71% higher than funding a 3-5 year old program. It costs more to operate an Early Head Start program. Interesting and thought provoking, how do we position ourselves for this change and is this where Head Start is headed nationally?
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Early Head Start is a well kept secret to the world outside of Head Start. Here at NPHS, we are proud of having an Early Head Start (since 1999) program under our agency’s umbrella. I value the positive impact Early Head Start has on the family and a woman’s pregnancy until the child turns 3. These early years are a critical time of development for the child. For those of you who don’t know about Early Head Start let me tell you just a little bit of information about our youngest program and how we operate. The program is offered through a home base model serving the communities located in Brooke, Marshall and Ohio Counties of West Virginia. Our Parent Educators provide services to an enrollment of 48 through the promotion of healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhancing the development of very young children and promoting healthy family functioning. They are responsible for implementing the principles of Early Head Start. |
The foundation of Early Head Start is based on four cornerstones:
Child Development - Parents are the most important teacher’s of their children and Early Head Start strives to include parents in all phases of their child’s development.
Family Development - Early Head Start is very committed to assisting children and families in strengthening parent-children relationships and the family as the primary teacher and nurturer.
| Staff Development -Staff development is an on-going process. Staff receives training such as Program for Infant and Toddler Caregiver (PITC) provided by the Early Head Start Manager and Creative Curriculum by an outside consultant. New staff is provided with CDA training by the Education/Training Manager. Additionally, staff receives disability/mental health trainings and attends local, state, regional and national trainings pertaining to Early Head Start service delivery. |
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Community Development - Community building is an essential component of Early Head Start. Linking Early Head Start families to the appropriate agencies for identified services is a critical piece of the puzzle. The philosophy of Head Start (Early Head Start) is that after the families leave our program, they will have gained knowledge and skills to support their families’ future as well as their community. Community development helps families to perceive themselves as a valuable part of their community and assist them with believing they can contribute to their neighborhoods. |
We look forward to our work ahead as we implement the new regulations and continue the positive impact our program has brought to thousands of Ohio Valley families over the years.
Marlene Midget, Executive Director
The Head Start (3-5 year olds) program received $3,937,218 to provide a comprehensive child development program during the operating period July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008. The non-federal share (or local in-kind match) is $984,305. Early Head Start (pregnant women and children birth to 3 year olds) received $431,504.00 to operate during the same period with a non-federal share of $107,876.00.
A triennial review is conducted with every Head Start program in the nation. The Office of Head Start acknowledges that Northern Panhandle Head Start, Inc. as of October 2007 is in full compliance with all applicable Head Start Program Performance Standards, laws regulations and policy requirements, based on our triennial review which was conducted in April 2007.
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The annual independent audit was conducted by SR Snodgrass-Certified Public Accountants and Consultants of Wheeling, WV. This audit was conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. In accordance with the Government Auditing Standards, the report dated December 11, 2007, stated that there were no reportable conditions or material weaknesses noted in the audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007. |
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Northern Panhandle Head Start currently has 9 Universal Pre-K Centers in collaboration with 5 school systems: Hancock-1, Brooke-1, Ohio-2, Marshall-4, and Wetzel-1. During the 2008-09 program year services will be expanded to serve 3 centers: 1 in Wetzel, 1 in Ohio, and 1 in Hancock County. The Creative Curriculum is used to foster preschool readiness skills in social-emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development. |
MIHOW has established partnerships with the Ohio Valley Breastfeeding Coalition, Wheeling Park High School Teen Moms Program and Wheeling Health Right. These collaborations are very ingrain in the mission of MIHOW and also promote the philosophy of helping mother’s link to the community resources that can improve the lives of their children and families. |
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- Staff training and implementation of Creative Curriculum for children birth to 5 years old
- Oral Health Grant implementation- Preventive Dental Care for children birth to 5 years old
- Technology Plan- Applied for E-Rate
- Internet access for centers-Increasing Communication program wide and supporting the Creative Curriculum objectives
- Increased HealthyCHILD staff by 1 Behavioral Health Consultant
- Head Start for Safety Program- Domestic Violence
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- Rural Health Center-Nutritional Training for Parents
- Oglebay Park Science Center - Project Green for Children
- Head Start for Safety - Domestic Violence Training
- Marshall County - Safe Havens Grant
- Healthy Families/Healthy Children Initiative Coalition - WVU Extension Office
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Our mission is to provide a high quality, comprehensive and family-focused, infant/toddler and early childhood program uniquely designed to prepare each child for tomorrow’s opportunities and challenges through community partnerships.
“Building foundations for life-long growth and development”
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Early Head Start ~ 48 pregnant women and children birth to 3 years old
Head Start ~ 513 children ages 3 to 5 years old
MIHOW ~ 40 prenatal women and children birth to 3 years old
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Office of Head Start
The West Virginia Legislature – WV Department of Health and Human Resources
51 16th Street, 4th Floor, Wheeling, WV 26003
1-877-732-3307 ~ 304-233-3290, 1-304-233-3719 (fax)
www.npheadstart.org
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