Volume 01 | Issue 11 | November 2024

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One Clear, Powerful Voice

 

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

Thank you to our Associate Partners!

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.

Elevate your classroom experience with Kodo today!

 
 

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.

Spotlight on Programs

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 Alumni

Across PA

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.

 
Share Your Head Start Voice

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."

Advocacy

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

Resources to Use

Equity Drivers to Strengthen Engagement


This resource is designed to support the implementation of the “equity, inclusiveness, cultural and linguistic responsiveness” arrow in the Head Start Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework. It also features a series of equity-focused activities to help you reflect on — and find actionable answers to — important questions.


Resources Here

Friendship Resources


Checklist for Effective Friendship Practices: Here

Learning Guide: Supporting Peer Interactions: Here

Social Story- I am a Super Friend: English Spanish

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.

Engage in Training Here
Experience Kodo
Request a Kodo Catalog

Recent News

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.


Listen Here
 

Child care shortage threatens Pennsylvania



Prioritize Recruitment and Retention

 

1.2 Million Parents Forced to Miss Work

Article
Article
Article

PA Early Ed News

Information for Programs

PHSA Office Closed

November 28-29, 2024

December 23-31, 2024

January 1, 2025


Last Month's Newsletter

October 2024

Meet Lynn Evans Biga

Luzerne County Head Start

Executive Director

---------------------------------------

Board Director

The PA Head Start Association



Following a remarkable 46 years of service, Luzerne County Head Start Executive Director Lynn Evans Biga has announced her retirement from the agency.

Biga formally made the announcement at an LCHS Board of Directors meeting on September 19. Afterward, the board voted to rename the agency’s Beekman Street Center in Wilkes-Barre after Biga in honor of her outstanding service. Her last day at the agency will be October 25, 2024.

Read the full press release Here.

Region III Training/Technical Assistance

Professional Development Bulletin Board

 
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National Head Start Association

 
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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.


Pennsylvania Head Start Association | PO Box 6445-Harrisburg-PA 17112 | paheadstart.org

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