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Advocacy and Policy News
Your Voice in the Master PlanThis month, Head Start California is working through its regional clusters to coordinate a comprehensive response to The Master Plan for Early Learning and Care. The Master Plan has major implications for Head Start’s role in the future of California’s mixed delivery system for early childhood care and learning. Our goal is to solicit broad input from Head Start programs across California to ensure that we can provide the administration with a cohesive and clear set of recommendations.
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Head Start California Updates
Vaccine Education“You are in the most noble profession of all … the care of young children, ” Dr. Peter Szilagyi assured over 400 attendees at the opening of the February 24 Vaccine Education Webinar, a joint collaboration between the Region 9 Head Start Association (R9HSA) and Head Start California (HSC). Dr. Szilagyi is one of four UCLA medical experts who joined the presentation through the efforts of HSC’s Workforce Development Committee. The goal of this initiative is to provide consistent information about coronavirus vaccinations to the Head Start community.
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Advocacy and Policy News
The Master Plan for Early Learning and Care: Making California For All Kids: A High-Level OverviewThe Master Plan:
- Outlines a roadmap for building comprehensive and equitable early learning system over the next decade.
- Builds on more than $500 million in federal funds allocated by the Governor and Legislature to increase access to childcare vouchers, waive family fees and support the child care workforce with PPE.
Recommendations include expanding access to paid family leave, providing universal preschool for all 4-year-olds and income eligible 3-year-olds and prohibiting suspensions and expulsions in subsidized early learning programs.
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Advocacy and Policy News
Our Policy Priorities for 2021: Improving Early Childhood Education with a COVID lensWe’ve turned the calendar corner, and 2021 will be busy. HSC’s vision remains the same – providing more pregnant mothers, children aged 0-5 and their families access to Head Start and Early Head Start high-quality school readiness and comprehensive services, and to improving the early childhood education and care system for the most vulnerable children. Making that vision a reality now requires a COVID-19 lens.
Our advocacy work is driven by stories and priorities. You have some impressive stories to tell. -
Advocacy and Policy News
Measuring impactHow do members of congress know what we want? The answer is surprisingly simple. We have to tell them. There are a few options: in-person meeting, phone call, letter, Tweet. Their legislative staff monitor these communications. Staff could report to their Member of Congress in under 15 seconds.
Staff: “Hey, we got some letters about including Head Start in the next COVID relief package.”
Member: “How many?”
Staff: “Almost 400.”
Member: “Ok.”
But what if the answer to ‘how many?’ had been: “Over 20,000.” That could lead to a very different congressional response: “Wow! -
Head Start California Updates
Happy New Year!Welcome 2021, a year we start with hope and caution. First, hope. On Dec. 14, 2020, Governor Newsom announced the Vaccinate all 58 campaign. In the press release, he said: “Hope is here. As our first doses of vaccine arrive, the promise of ending the pandemic is on the horizon. By taking collective, inclusive action across all 58 counties to get people vaccinated, we can get through to a healthier future for all.” So,
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Head Start California Updates
Weekly Wellness MomentsTo support the needs of Head Start statewide, the Board’s Workforce Development Committee is focusing on the wellness of you and your entire staff.
Each Monday for six weeks, we’ll be sending you a calendar of Weekly Wellness Moments – a collection of short and helpful one-minute mindfulness activities to promote self-care, reduce stress, invoke calm, and generate a happy mindset.
Right now, you are essential! You are working on the front lines, making sure our most precious resource, -
Head Start Stories
The Power of Head Start story: By RainaStory submitted by: Raina
Head Start coach
San Bernardino County Preschool Services
As a Head Start staff member and parent, I have been personally impacted by Head Start in a positive and progressive way. I have worked in Head Start for a little over 10 years and my son was a Head Start child. Entering as a teacher when I started in Head Start was a blessing for me. I thought I was signing up to be just a teacher and learned that Head Start was more than supporting a child’s educational development. -
Head Start Stories
The Power of Head Start story: By DavidStory submitted by: David
Head Start Mental Health/Social Worker
Sacramento City Unified School District
Thirty-five years ago, I was inspired to influence the education system and help parents because of my great experience with my own daughter’s Head Start teacher. I received my Master’s in Counseling and became a Mental Health consultant. Since then, I’ve worked with Head Start parents for almost 25 years. I have seen parents move out of their comfort zones by participating and leading in Policy Council, -
Head Start Stories
The Power of Head Start Story: By AmparoStory submitted by: Amparo
Migrant Seasonal Head Start in Community Action
Partnership, San Luis Obispo, CA
I have been with Migrant Seasonal Head Start through Community Action Partnership San Luis Obispo for 19 years. I immigrated here from Mexico in 1989 with my four daughters and two sons. I started working at home babysitting six kids. I worked very hard for almost 10 years and in 1997, I decided to attend adult school to learn English.
