OVERVIEW OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY HEAD START ZER0-FI - BOS PRESENTATION SUMMER 07-21-08.PPT

Head Start Zero-
Five Program
Program Update to Board of Supervisors
July 21, 2008

Presentation Agenda
• 2008 Program Highlights
• Results of December 2007 OHS Monitoring
• New Head Start Act
• 2009 Program
• Items for BOS Approval (7/23)

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
2007-08

Program Accomplishments 2007-08
• Successful OHS on-site monitoring
• Successful monitoring of child care food
program
• 5 year Healthy Marriage Initiative Grant
• Two sites achieved NAEYC accreditation
• Implemented market salary adjustments

Program Challenges 2007-08
• Staff recruitment
– Qualified classroom staff
– Bi-lingual staff (home visitors, family case
specialists, classroom teachers)
• Rising costs – flat funding
• Waiver non-federal share match
– 24% match vs. 25% (-$191,000)

Self-Assessment April 2008
Program Strengths
• Shared-decision making with parents
• AHCCCS on-site during program enrollment
• Timely referral of children with suspected
disabilities
• Research-based curricula
• Parents highly satisfied with program services
• Strong community partnerships

Self Assessment April 2008
Areas for Improvement
• Update health and safety procedures
• Strengthen link between Policy Council and parent
committees
• Improve child attendance rates
• Improve referral process for social services
• Increase training for staff working with children with
disabilities

Enrollment 2007-08
• 2,976 Total Children Served
58% Spanish is primary language
• 27 Pregnant Women Served
• 12% Children had disability (10% required)

Families Served 2007-08
• Families
– 39% single-parent
– 41% less than high school diploma/GED
• Most Common Support Services
• Health Education
• Parenting Education
• Emergency/Crisis Assistance
• ESL or GED

Child Outcomes 2007-08
• 2-4 step gain
– 63% understands complex and varied vocabulary
– 54% participate in reading activities
– 44% knows letters of the alphabet
– 39% counts objects

OHS MONITORING RESULTS
DECEMBER 2007

OHS Monitoring
• Tri-annual on-site review
• December 2-7, 2007
• Report Received April 24, 2008
• Full Compliance
– All services to children and families
– Classrooms environments
– Fiscal
– Program Management

OHS Monitoring Findings
• Transportation - recruitment flyers didn’t state we
do not provide transportation services
• Program Governance – staff serves as recording
secretary of Policy Council
• Enrollment - area of concern
– Achieved 97% threshold for full enrollment
– 48 home-based children not served (lack of staff)
• Chairman Sign Letter – Corrective Actions

Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007
NEW HEAD START ACT

Overview
• Signed into Law December 12, 2007
• Regulations converted to law
• Changes to BOS responsibilities
– Approval
– Oversight

Increased Emphasis
• School readiness & alignment with public
schools
• Limited English Proficient (LEP)
• Homeless children

Major Changes
• 5 year grant term/re-competition
• National Academy of Sciences study
outcomes and assessment (stop NRS)
• Locally defined goals for school readiness
• Expanded Eligibility to 130% FPL
• Increased Staff Qualifications
– Teachers - AA Degree Required 2011
– Currently - 60% BA / 40% AA Degree

New BOS Responsibilities
Approval
• Recruitment, selection and enrollment criteria
• Policy Council member selection procedures
• Self-assessment policy
• Program standards of conduct
• Procedures to collecting and sharing
information with the Policy Council and BOS

New BOS Responsibilities
Program Oversight
• Review grant application
• Monthly program and financial data
• Information from Office of Head Start
• Program Reports
• Long-term goals and short-term objectives
• Community Assessment
• Program Self-Assessment
• Annual Program Report to Office of Head Start

2008-09 PROGRAM

Three Year Grant Plan Goals
• Recruit and retain qualified staff
• Children’s language development (receptive
and expressive)
• Improved case management system for
families

2008-09 Program Changes
• Reduced Enrollment
– Funded Enrollment 2,362 (-65)
• Site Changes (cost savings)
– Close ASU Polytechnic Site
– Close ADJC Adobe Mountain EHS (boy’s facility)
– Close 1 EHS Classroom and convert to Home-Base
Services

2008-09 Program Changes
• Reduced Head Start Classroom Staffing
– Two teacher classroom staffing
– Eliminate 19 Teacher Aide positions
• New scientific-based child assessment tools
• Add Volunteer Coordinator (in-kind match)
• Apply $50,000 supplemental funds – staff
qualifications
• Renew NHSA Program of Excellence

BOS APPROVAL ITEMS
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Revised Policy Council Bylaws
• Approved by Policy Council 5/30/08
• Address OHS finding – remove Recording
Secretary
• Other Changes
– Separates Head Start and EHS parent
representatives
– Reference to Open Meeting Law

Revised Policy Council Parent
Representative Election Procedure
• Approved by Policy Council 5/20/08
• 3 step process
– Introduction to Policy Council at initial home visit
– Nominations at parent orientation
– Election at parent meeting in September

Eligibility and Selection Criteria
• Approved by Policy Council 3/28/08
• Priorities
– Poverty
– 4 year olds
– Children with Disabilities
– Teen parents, foster children, homeless,
incarcerated parent, non-English speaking

Appointment BOS Representative
to Policy Council
• Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox – 3rd (final)
term
– September 27, 2008 – September 26, 2009