Celebrating 58 Years of Head Start!

On May 18, we celebrate 58 years of Head Start! We hope all Head Start programs, partners, supporters, and friends will join us in celebrating nearly six decades of Head Start–the most important social and educational investment in children, families, and communities the U.S. has ever undertaken. Here’s how you can get involved: 

• Spread the word! Use our Social Media Toolkit to share well wishes and raise awareness of the impact of #58YearsOfHeadStart. We would love to hear how your program plans to celebrate!



Join us for a wild Virtual Birthday Bash with Pinky at the Smithsonian National Zoo on Thursday, May 18 from 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET! We’ll sing, dance, see adorable zoo babies, and you’ll get to meet Monique Chism, the Smithsonian's under secretary for education, who has a heartfelt message for you, Head Start.

Opportunities

The Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) is surveying Early Childhood Educators about their trauma-informed care (TIC) policies and practices. The goal is to create free access to practical examples of what trauma-informed care “looks like” in early learning settings. Make sure Head Start’s voice is represented - take the survey before it closes on June 30.

Health & Safety

Sometimes you don't know which symptoms require Urgent Care or Emergency Care. The graphic below can help alleviate confusion on which option you should be utilizing when you or your child are not feeling well.

Click here for full size flyer.

We still have FREE Boxes of DIAPERS!

For a diaper distribution center near you, please click here or scan the QR code below!

Parents As Teachers - Mental Health Awareness Month

(For Families with children pre-natal to age 5)

As early experiences shape the architecture of the developing brain, they also lay the foundations of sound mental health. Disruptions to this developmental process can impair a child’s capacities for learning and relating to others — with lifelong implications. By improving children’s environments of relationships and experiences early in life, society can address many costly problems, including incarceration, homelessness, and the failure to complete high school.

It is essential to treat young children’s mental health problems within the context of their families, homes, and communities. The emotional well-being of young children is directly tied to the functioning of their caregivers and the families in which they live. When these relationships are abusive, threatening, chronically neglectful, or otherwise psychologically harmful, they are a potent risk factor for the development of early mental health problems. In contrast, when relationships are reliably responsive and supportive, they can actually buffer young children from the adverse effects of other stressors. Therefore, reducing the stressors affecting children requires addressing the stresses on their families. 

Coaching

The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations

The goals of the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) are to assist states and programs in their implementation of sustainable systems for the implementation of the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Pyramid Model) within early intervention and early education programs with a focus on promoting the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of young children birth to five, reducing the use of inappropriate discipline practices, promoting family engagement, using data for decision-making, integrating early childhood and infant mental health consultation and fostering inclusion.

This link to a children’s book list includes diverse examples of books that can be used to promote social-emotional skills such as feelings and emotions, friendships, kindness, and problem solving.

Children’s book list

Peer Mentor Program

Early Childhood Professionals, in June of 2023, the Colorado Department of Early Childhood will launch the second cohort of the Teacher Peer Mentor Pilot Program. We are seeking mentors and mentees who are interested in participating. The training will support mentors in building the skills to be a mentor. We will provide access to funding for substitute teachers and both mentors and mentee participants will receive a stipend for their participation. View the flyer for more information.

Click here for full details on the CDEC website

Personal Development - Career opportunities and financial supports for you! 

High quality early childhood settings begin with well-trained and well-prepared educators. The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) currently offers several state-wide scholarship and grant opportunities for students who would like to earn a degree, certificate, or credential in early childhood education, and for home-based providers who are seeking funding to start up, expand, or maintain consistent operations for their family child care home facility:



• ECCLA’s Back to Work Scholarship Program provides 1:1 career and college navigation and scholarship awards up to $2,500.00 that can be used for several different types of expenses (like books, supplies, child care, and more!)
• ECCLA’s Concurrent Enrollment Scholarship is for high school students interested in earning college credits and experience in Early Childhood Education.
• ECCLA’s Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship is available to help recipients complete the training requirements to earn a Colorado Coach Credential.
• ECCLA’s Family Child Care Home Improvement Grant is available to help home-based providers start up, expand, or maintain consistent operations for their family child care home facility. 
• ECCLA’s Rural R.U.N. Scholarship Program provides career counseling and tuition support to early childhood professionals in rural communities seeking to earn early childhood credentials like ERS®, CLASS®, National Director Credential, Coaching Credential, and any of the ECE College Certificates.
• ECCLA’s T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Colorado Scholarship Program offers early childhood professionals a pathway to pursue higher education. 
• ECCLA’s  Early Childhood Coach Credential Scholarship, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), ECCLA offers a scholarship opportunity for early childhood professionals seeking an Early Childhood Coaching Credential. 

The Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA) is committed to the process of ensuring equity, dismantling systems of racism, and supporting young children, families, and early childhood professionals to have a voice as their true selves in our early childhood system. ECCLA’s Justice, Equity, and Belonging (JEB) Collaborative has created a Resource Collection that can support you in creating inclusive environments for children, families, and educators. We have resources created by ECCLA, resources for caregivers and educators, administrators and program leaders, and other community and state stakeholders, along with a list of Equity Trainings and Trainers. Check out ECCLA’s JEB page to see how you can create inclusive environments for children, families, and educators!

The Sargent Early Learning Center (SELC) in Monte Vista, CO is hiring an Executive Director!

The SELC is a nonprofit childcare center that offers daycare and preschool programs. salary starting at $35,000 dependent upon education and qualifications. The Executive Director is responsible for providing a developmentally appropriate program for children ages 12 months to 5 years old, program accountability, financial management of the SELC, staff development, and parental involvement activities.

Click here for more details and how to apply!

Center School District is now accepting applications!

CENTER CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT 26Jt is paying years of service and single health insurance benefits. Center School District is now accepting applications for the position of PRESCHOOL/TODDLER TEACHER for the 2023-2024 School Year.

Qualifications: AA in Early Childhood Education preferred or willing to obtain qualifications Experience working with Preschool/Toddler Age Children in an educational environment, or such alternative as the Board of Education may find appropriate and acceptable.

All candidates must pass background checks. Current or former Head Start or Early Head Start parents encouraged to apply. Applications can be found on the District Website https://www.center.k12.co.us/page/employment-opportunities or contact the District Office at (719)754-3442.

Application Deadline: Until Position is Filled. EOE. (5/3/23)