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Head Start Stories
The Power of Head Start Story: By JacquelynStory submitted by:
Jacquelyn, Head Start parent and Assistant Director at
San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department
My Head Start story began in 1973. I was 4 years old and enrolled in the Ramona Gardens Head Start Child Care Center in Los Angeles. At the time, my mom, dad and sister lived in the Ramona Gardens Project Housing Development. We were very poor and received financial assistance. I still remember my teacher, Ms. -
Head Start Stories
The Power of Head Start Story: By NinaStory submitted by:
Nina, Head Start parent
E-Center Head Start in Yuba City, CA
Head Start has made it possible for my grandchildren to succeed. My husband and I were granted permanent guardianship of our grandchildren Gracie and Preston, (then 18 months and 7 months, respectively). Both were developmentally delayed and emotionally unstable. Gracie didn’t talk, cried often, and Preston didn’t do much except lay there. My husband and I were both working full time, -
Head Start Stories
The Power of Head Start Story: By Myra AcostaStory submitted by:
Myra Acosta
ECE Director, Palm Springs Unified School District, Early Childhood Education Program
I am a single mother of two wonderful children: Jasmin, 18 and Daniel, 16. When my son Daniel was born, he did not pass his newborn hearing screening, so we began seeing a specialist. Daniel was diagnosed with cognitive delays and moderate to severe Autism at 3 years old. As a mother, I was devastated and sought refuge in my faith. -
Head Start California Updates
It’s National Head Start Awareness Month! Engage in the StoryThere are 100,000 Head Start stories in California – and one of them is yours. These stories are compelling because they have three elements with universal appeal.
First, they are about children, who have a natural innocence and beauty that tugs at every heartstring.
Second, our stories have a powerful ethical message. We present our communities with situations that ought not to be— like children and families unable to make ends meets. Finally, your stories reveal the compelling contribution of Head Start. -
Head Start California Updates
New State Blueprint and GuidanceGovernor Newsom released a new Blueprint for a Safer Economy noting that “COVID-19 will be with us for a long time and that we all need to adapt and live differently to get through this”. The Blueprint provides a uniform framework of four Tiers based on how prevalent COVID-19 is in each county and will be used to guide progression of opening businesses and activities. In accompanying documents posted by California Department of Public Health,
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Head Start California Updates
New Census TimelineCensus data collection & self-response close on Sept. 30
On Aug. 3, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that it would not be moving forward with its COVID adjusted timeline and instead would continue with an accelerated timeline to deliver apportionment counts to the President by Dec. 31, 2020.
This means that the U.S. Census Bureau will end field data collection by Sept. 30, 2020. Self-response options will also close on that date to permit the commencement of data processing. -
Head Start California Updates
Census Summer is Here!Get involved & help ensure the 0-5 population is counted
The Urban Institute estimates that as many as 792,000 California residents may be undercounted in 2020. In the 2010 Census, children aged 0-5 were the most underrepresented population. Families and communities most likely to be left out of the count are once again at risk of losing critical resources that are allocated based on the 2020 Census. This makes completing the count a crucial task of child care providers. -
Head Start California Updates
Announcing: The HSC 2020-21 Board of DirectorsCongratulations to the newly elected officers of your Head Start California Board of Directors!
President, Stacey Scarborough
Early Head Start Director and Chief Human Resources Officer
Venice Family Clinic
Vice President, Debbie Peralez
Executive Director
Child Start, Inc.
Treasurer, Brian Heese
Executive Director
Northern California Child Development, Inc.
Secretary, Angel Barrios
Executive Director
Institute for Human & Social Development, Inc.
Transitions
Board President Stacey Scarborough thanked several members who concluded their board terms: Erendira Guerera, -
Advocacy and Policy News
2020-21 State Budget SignedNearly 500 letters sent to Gov. Newsom to urge adoption of Legislature’s budget
The Governor and Legislature reached a final budget deal this week, protecting child care provider reimbursement rates and including additional protections to keep child care thriving as the essential service it is now and always will be. On June 30, Governor Newsom signed the 2020-21 state budget which protects many existing investments in children, families and care providers.
AB 77 and SB 98 are the budget trailer bills for education financing, -
Advocacy and Policy News
HSC Members Go Virtual for State & Federal Advocacy DaysChild Care & End Child Poverty in CA- Virtual Advocacy Days
On June 4, Head Start California partnered with the California Alternative Payment Program Association, End Child Poverty CA and the CA Food Bank Association to host a virtual advocacy day. We came together as a group of over 250 advocates where we learned, advocated and briefed over 50 legislative offices on our state policy and budget overview that will keep families fed, housed, and cared for.