Webinars

Upcoming Webinars

HSPPS Updates: Mental Health Q&A Session

Presented by: Region IX Office of Head Start

Thursday, January 23, 2025  | 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm PT

Head Start California invites you to the third virtual session of our HSPPS Implementation Q&A series, hosted in collaboration with the Region IX Office of Head Start. This session will take place on January 23, 2025, and is intended for program directors and leaders in Head Start mental health services.

This session will be focused on answering your questions regarding mental health requirements in the final rule. Register now.

ECE Voices: Advocacy Foundations Virtual Training

Presented by: EveryChild California

Tuesday, March 4, 2025  | 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm PT

Before you head to Sacramento, get an introduction (or refresher) to advocacy on this free virtual session, presented by our partners from EveryChild California. You’ll learn about California’s legislative and budget processes, and how you can use your voice to make an impact.

Although this training is complimentary, you must register for it separately here.

This opportunity is also open to those not able to attend HSC Advocacy Day.

Webinars On-Demand

Unlocking the Power of AI for Head Start in Challenging Times: From Basics to
Impactful Applications

Presented by: Learning Genie

Join us for a transformative webinar tailored specifically for Head Start leaders, where we will demystify Artificial Intelligence (AI) and dive into its powerful applications within Head Start programs. This session will provide you with essential knowledge and practical tools to seamlessly incorporate AI into various areas, such as program goals, fiscal management, assessment, curriculum planning, personalized learning, and data-driven decision-making.

Recorded on November 20, 2024. Watch the recording

Empowering Subs: Professional Development Strategies for Success

Presented by: ECE STEP / Sub Start

Join us for an insightful panel discussion on unlocking the full potential of substitute teachers through targeted professional development strategies. Expert panelists from the ECE STEP professional development team will share insights on creating a supportive onboarding process, enhancing child development skills, and fostering growth opportunities for substitute educators. Whether you are a program leader, education manager, site supervisor, or educator, this session will offer valuable takeaways for building a more prepared workforce. Recorded on October 30, 2024. Watch the recording

Block Play: Stacked with Learning Potential

Presented by: School Specialty

One source described blocks as “the tool you can’t teach without.” Join this session with our partner, School Specialty, to uncover the truth behind that statement. In this one-hour webinar, you’ll learn the definition of a block, types of blocks, appropriate set-up of the block area, stages of block play, benefits for children and the teacher’s role as well as a few tips on appropriately including students with special needs.

Recorded on October 16, 2024. Watch the recording

Combining Play, Teaching, & Technology for Early Literacy Development

Presented by: Hatch Early Learning

This webinar will show how systematic instruction, playful learning activities, and technology can work together to help preschoolers develop early reading and writing skills. We’ll discuss research on how young children’s brains develop and what this means for teaching basic literacy skills. We’ll also talk about how to mix systematic instruction with playful learning that builds on what children already know. Lastly, we’ll explore how technology can help track and support children’s literacy development.

Recorded on Sept. 11, 2024. Watch the recording

De-escalation Strategies for Head Start Staff

Presented by: Hanna Institute

Challenges and difficulties inevitably arise in the critical work Head Start does when supporting children, families, and their communities – especially those who’ve been pushed to the margins of our society. In this interactive webinar, we explore everyday communication and de-escalation skills that staff can use to enhance feelings of safety and support when working with children or families demonstrating escalated behaviors. Participants will learn strategies for de-escalation that contribute to a trauma-responsive approach to serving their community.

Recorded on June 13, 2024. Watch the recording

Head Start Funding Essentials: Non-Federal Share Demystified

Presented by: Learning Genie

Join us as we unravel the intricacies of Non-Federal Share. In this comprehensive webinar, hosted by HSC’s Proud Partner Learning Genie, we’ll delve into the topics of regulations, demystify the terms, and provide definitions to empower you with the knowledge needed to navigate this critical aspect of funding.

Our expert presenters will guide you through a thorough review of allowable costs, ensuring you grasp the nuances of what qualifies and what doesn’t. Gain invaluable insights into the process of determining, valuing, and documenting non-federal share and in-kind collections.

Recorded on May 29, 2024. Watch the recording

Dental Hygienist Liaison Project

Presented by: Dental Hygienst Liaisons

The National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety (NCHBHS), working in partnership with the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, administers the Dental Hygienist Liaison (DHL) project. Under the DHL project, dental hygienists from each state volunteer to help promote oral health for pregnant women and pregnant people and children enrolled in Head Start programs.

This webinar is brought to you in partnership with the Head Start Collaboration Office and hosted by Head Start California.

Recorded on May 29, 2024. Watch the recording

Crafting an Effective Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

Presented by: CalNonprofits Insurance Services

With the implementation of Senate Bill 533, effective July 1, 2024, California employers are mandated to develop comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans. However, compliance is just the beginning. It’s about safeguarding your team’s safety and well-being.

Join us for an engaging workshop designed specifically for HR staff, site directors and program directors. Gain insights into crafting and implementing robust violence prevention policies and receive a template to use as a starting point. We’ll delve into the intricacies of policy formulation and execution, empowering you to create a safer workplace environment for your staff and their families.

Recorded on April 25, 2024. Watch the recording

Meeting Sensory Needs for All in an Early Childhood Environment

Presented by: School Specialty

Understanding the senses (all 8 of them!) is crucial for educators in order to provide an environment that is inclusive for all children. Join this session to learn more about the eight sensory systems, sensory processing, and sensory processing disorder. Participants will become aware of ways to address sensory needs in the early childhood environment and gain ideas for how to create a classroom that will support all students.

Recorded on April 17, 2024. Watch the recording

Future-Proofing Your Workforce: Strategies for Developing a Sub Pool

Presented by: Sub Start and Kai King Head Start

Join Head Start California and Sub Start for an insightful webinar on building and nurturing your pool of substitutes to strategically support your long-term workforce planning. Gain valuable insights from the staff at Kai Ming Head Start and learn how they tackled common staffing challenges as a Head Start program themselves. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover practical tips for recruiting and growing your substitute pool.

Recorded on April 10, 2024. Watch the recording

Hand in Hand with Teachers: Embedded Instruction – Inclusion in Action

Presented by: Napa County Office of Education, in partnership with the California Head Start Collaboration Office

The California Head Start State Collaboration Office, in partnership with Head Start California, is hosting a webinar featuring the Napa County Office of Education on Embedded Instruction for Early learning California entitled, “Hand in Hand with Teachers: Embedded Instruction – Inclusion in Action”. Embedded Instruction is an approach to instruction that provides opportunities for preschool children with IEPs to learn alongside their peers in everyday activities in inclusive classes. In this webinar, participants will learn new ways to apply embedded instruction practices to everyday activities, routines, and transitions in their classrooms.

Recorded on March 21, 2024. Watch the recording.

Self-Care: How to Be Present Every Single Day

Presented by: National Head Start Association, sponsored by: National University

Work-related stressors and responsibilities build over time and oftentimes, we don’t even realize that our lives are out of balance. How can we be our best at work, at home, and in our community? Regaining our footing begins with recognizing and reordering our commitments to our self-care, evaluating our use of time, and taking the time to breathe so that we can be present with those we love. In this session, we will be exploring self-care and the importance of putting the mask on yourself first. Even if you have attended similar sessions in the past, this is an excellent opportunity to kick off the new year with renewed energy.

Don’t miss this chance to invest in yourself, and gain valuable tools to enhance your overall wellness. Prioritize your well-being because, when you thrive, so does your profound impact on the Head Start children and families you serve.

Recorded on January 25, 2024. Watch the recording.

Power-Up Your Head Start: Strategies for Strengthening Your Data Improvement Efforts

Presented by: Acorn Evaluation

In today’s fast-paced world, motivating your team to continue improving data capacity can feel like an uphill battle. Join our partners from Acorn Evaluation for this one-hour webinar, “Power-Up Your Head Start,” where we explore the strategies and tools to activate and sustain behavior that strengthens your organization, even during the busiest of times.

Are you struggling to make space for improvement work when you’re already overloaded? Do you wonder how to keep your staff motivated and break out of the daily grind? This webinar is for you! Think of this webinar as an inner jolt of inspiration to get you started on that journey and identify small actionable steps you can take now.

Recorded on November 15, 2023. Watch the recording.

Unlocking Early Learning Milestones Through Game-Based Learning

Presented by: SimplyFun

Discover how playful interactions can nurture key developmental milestones in alignment with Head Start’s five learning domains. Dive into engaging activities and gain insights into fostering cognitive, social-emotional, language, physical, and learning readiness skills in young learners. This interactive session, led by an education research consultant, aims to equip educators with innovative tools and strategies.

Recorded on October 19, 2023. Watch the recording.

Advancing Equity, Inclusiveness, and Cultural/Linguistic Responsiveness through Data-Driven Family Engagement

Presented by: Learning Genie

The Head Start PFCE Framework emphasizes the importance to integrate equity, inclusiveness, and cultural and linguistic responsiveness in the Early Childhood Systems. As Head Start programs are navigating through challenges post-pandemic, we believe effective and innovative family engagement will play a crucial role in boosting enrollment and retention. In this webinar, learn tools and strategies to advance equity, inclusiveness, and culture and linguistic responsiveness in teaching and family engagement; assess family needs and develop intentional plans; support dual or multi-lingual learners in the classroom and at-home learning activities; and use data to monitor progress and demonstrate outcomes.

Recorded on June 14, 2023. Watch the recording.

Head Start Blending, Braiding, and Layering Best Practices

Presented by: Santa Clara County Office of Education, sponsored by the California Head Start State Collaboration Office. 

The webinar is intended for school administrators, Head Start program directors, early learning and care directors and staff, and anyone who would like to learn more about how to blend, braid, and layer with Head Start programs to maximize benefits to children, families, and providers.

Recorded on May 30, 2023. Watch the recording.

Using Gameplay to Achieve School Readiness Outcomes

Presented by: SimplyFun

This interactive webinar will provide opportunities for participants to engage with the material and with each other. Our focus will be on play-based learning as a powerful tool for achieving school readiness outcomes for Head Start children ages 3-5. We will explore the principles of play-based learning and its benefits for children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Recorded on May 24, 2023. Watch the recording.

Family Needs Assessment Data
& Program Planning

Presented by: COPA by KinderSystems

Are you involved in Head Start program planning, administration, and enrollment? Join us for a free, one-hour virtual workshop that will explore ways programs can use Family Needs Assessment data to deepen program planning.

Recorded on April 19, 2023. Watch the recording.

Ahead of the Curve: Strategies for Supporting Small People with Big Feelings

Presented by: Hanna Institute

In this presentation, we’ll unpack some of the root causes for children’s most dysregulated behavior. We’ll shift our perspective to see these as adaptions that have enabled children to survive, and explore actionable strategies we can take to help them shift into strategies that will help them thrive.

Recorded on April 14, 2023. Watch the recording.

ABCs of Early Play-Based Learning

Presented by: SimplyFun

This immersive workshop captures the benefits and strategies for implementing play-based learning in early learning. Providing easy-to-use practices and ways to connect with families and their home practices, this workshop covers ways to encourage social emotional, reading, and analytical skills in early learners.

Recorded on April 4, 2023. Watch the recording.

Child Engagement and Relationship Building in the Classroom + Harmony SEL Resources

Presented by: National University

Developing healthy relationships with children is vital to their social and emotional development and learning experiences. National University – Harmony Social Emotional Learning presents a best practices and resource-sharing webinar that will help you make every interaction with children meaningful.

Recorded on March 30, 2023. Watch the recording.

Inclusive Early Childhood Environments for Children with Special Needs

Presented by: School Specialty

This dynamic workshop will include easy-to-implement options for setting up an inclusive early childhood classroom that will benefit children with special needs as well as those who are typically developing. We will review the physical, sensory, as well as social & emotional learning concepts for children with special needs.

Recorded on January 24, 2023. Watch the recording.