Volume 01 | Issue 11 | November 2024

PA Head Start Association highlights our advocacy, promotes civic engagement, serves our members through professional learning and celebrates our programs. The Association values our program members and their mission-focused work along-side families, with children and within their communities.

Kara McFalls

Executive Director

Discover the Power of Head Start Learning Materials at Kodo!

Complete this form to receive direct access to our knowledgeable Head Start specialists. They'll help you curate the perfect collection of Head Start materials tailored to your students' needs.

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Early Intel helps program managers work smarter, not harder:

- Coaching on monitoring and assessment

- Illuminating data insights

- Mastermind peer network

- Quality improvement sprints

- Federal review prep

Communication Essentials LLC is a social enterprise focused on meeting multicultural communication needs within the framework of language justice. They provide customized language access consulting, training, research design, multilingual multimedia work, interpretation, and translation aimed at cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Chester County Intermediate Unit

Hammer time in preschool! Our little builders are getting hands-on with pumpkins, while they practice fine motor skills!

County Action Partnership of Cambria County

Wrapping up Red Ribbon Week, wearing our red. It was a crazy Friday and we didn't get all of our team's picture. Thanks to everyone who joined in all week and brought awareness to our community about drug use prevention.

STEP Head Start

STEP Head Start’s Lock Haven #4 classroom filled their beehive and celebrated by having a pajama day! Way to Bee!

Head Start programs have existed in Pennsylvania since 1965, we have many Alumni! Meet a different Alumni each month through our newsletter.

-Introducing Brenda Maciel

to tell us her story-

"My experience with Headstart began at the age of 4 when I attended myself. I had just arrived at a new country where I spoke no English and the world around me was big and confusing. One of the aides who was there named Sandra worked with me every day and made sure I was always able to participate and understand what was going on. My English has grown a lot since then and I am now a mother of 3. My son attended Headstart for 2 years where he had a wonderful teacher who always made sure we felt supported even when it was a confusing time where for half the year we only met through zoom classrooms.

Then began my journey with Early Headstart with my youngest two where my home visitor, Brandie came on a weekly basis. I’ve been able to grow as a mom through the knowledge and support that has been provided. I still use a lot of the parenting tools Brandie taught us and even continue to try to teach them to others I come across. My current home visitor Brad has brought his own style of teaching and I’ve began to learn even more. I’ve been supported by each of these people in many ways in different stages of my life and would not have been able to if it wasn’t for a program like this. I truly appreciate everything this program does."

The Presidential Election is over... now what?

Continue to engage families in local elections and voter registration. Utilize these resources to help guide families on their voting rights.

Share Head Start stories! These stories bring Head Start to life for legislators among news articles and statistics. All families and staff are encouraged to share their Head Start story!

The Association is aiming for 100 stories by 1/1/2025!

23 out of 100

Health Disparities & Resilience Training

Explore this module to learn more about differences in health outcomes and their causes among groups of people.

Discover how Head Start health services can increase protective factors that lessen the negative effect of health disparities.

Find strategies for helping children and families identify and use their own strengths to achieve better health.

Radio Coverage

No easy answers for Pennsylvania's Childcare System

WESA’s Priyanka Tewari sat down with Sarah Boden, who covers caregiving and the social safety net for Spotlight PA, to discuss the state of the child care industry in Pennsylvania.

Child care shortage threatens Pennsylvania

Prioritize Recruitment and Retention

1.2 Million Parents Forced to Miss Work

Read the full press release Here.

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National Head Start Association

When it comes to moving Congress, there's strength in numbers.

National Head Start Association relies on your voice for advocacy and engagement in DC and across the country.

Sign up for NHSA's mailing list to receive their action alerts and updates on policy issues relevant to Head Start.