-
Head Start California Updates
2023 Annual Conference RecapHead Start California would like to congratulate the 2023 Annual Conference planning committee members for their diligent work in selecting the content for the more than 40 sessions for the 2023 Virtual Annual Conference!
This year’s planning committee included: Billiejo LaBriola, Sandra Gonzales-Pabon, Kindell Graham, and Threasa Hernandez. The conference committee provides program perspective on training needs, participates in the selection process of workshops, and identifies speakers.
Event Highlights
Monday morning we launched our on-demand pre-recorded workshops and welcomed our first live keynote, -
Advocacy and Policy News
Seven Head Start leaders selected to serve on UPK WorkgroupHSC is excited to learn that early childhood leaders from several agencies with Head Start programs have been selected to serve on the Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) Mixed Delivery Quality and Access Workgroup established by AB 185 SEC. 2. Congratulations to:
- Jennifer Adcock, Moreno Valley USD
- Lorena Burrola, Merced County Office of Education
- Mei Hua Fu, Kai Ming Head Start
- Deidre D. Jones, Neighborhood House Association
- Tony Jordan,
-
Head Start California Updates
Head Start Awareness Video: Take a Look!Head Start Awareness Month may be over, but we know that celebrating Head Start doesn’t end here!
As part of our efforts to increase awareness of Head Start last month, we set up a video collector to gather candid video clips from Head Start parents, staff and alumni from across California showing the amazing outcomes from Head Start. Thank you to all who participated! The clips were used to create this 2-minute video that will help us demonstrate the power of Head Start to legislators, -
Advocacy and Policy News
Tell Congress to Hold the Line for Head Start in the federal budgetNational Head Start Association is asking as many Head Start directors, staff and parents as possible to reach out to their Senators and Congressional Representatives and ask them to hold the line on funding for Head Start and include a minimum $1 billion increase for Head Start in the FY 2023 Appropriations bill. Please take a moment to send a letter and forward this link to your staff and families! Send a letter to Congress now!
-
Advocacy and Policy News
Senate Bill 1047 provides new opportunities for Head Start providersIn September, the Governor signed Senate Bill (SB) 1047 (Limón). This bill will extend eligibility for childcare and development programs and the preschool program to families in which a member of the family has been certified as eligible to receive benefits from certain means-tested government programs, including Head Start and Early Head Start.
This change in law, effective January 1, 2023, has two important implications for Head Start grantees. First, it will be administratively easier to enroll Head Start-eligible children in state-subsidized programs (with the exception of CalWorks 1, -
Head Start California Updates
Health Institute Brings 200 Head Start staff to Newport BeachHead Start California’s Annual Health Institute was held in Newport Beach on October 24-26, and it was a pleasure to see over 200 members of the Head Start health community in person. The conference featured 20 concurrent sessions, 4 keynotes, and 3 pre-institutes around Mental Health & Wellness, Nutrition & Food Services, Safety Practices, Health Service Requirements, and Maternal & Infant Health. Our attendees also had a chance to gather at our outdoor reception and take part in networking Bingo.
-
Advocacy and Policy News
Head Start California Celebrates the Passage of AB 2131On September 30, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 2131. Sponsored by Head Start California and the Los Angeles County Office of Education, AB 2131 removes the final impediment to implementing a single childcare license for all ages and allows the Department of Social Services to more swiftly implement the new licenses.
In 2018, California passed AB 605 (Mullin), which ordered the Department of Social Services to create a single child care license. Previously, child care providers were required to hold separate licenses for different age groups, -
Head Start California Updates
Join the Annual CACFP Conference in Sacramento!It’s time to start planning your trip to Sacramento, CA, October 17-19, 2022, for the CACFP Roundtable’s 31st Annual CACFP Conference. Join your Head Start colleagues and CACFP community for our big return to an in-person conference. We invite you to reconnect & recharge with interactive content that meets the needs of the moment, creates space for necessary dialogue, and offers relevant training that supports the CACFP community.
To highlight just a few sessions you won’t want to miss:- CACFP Administrative Review Tips,
-
Advocacy and Policy News
Urgent Request: Share your data on the Head Start Staffing CrisisThe teacher shortage in early childhood programs, including Head Start, has become a national conversation. Head Start California is working with EveryChild California to get current, on-the-ground information regarding the scope of the crisis. Collecting this data now is important, as we prepare for congressional visits in mid-September. We want to give our federal legislators a real-time understanding of the scope of the problem – both the challenge it creates for programs and its impact on parents and children.
-
Advocacy and Policy News
Assembly Bill 2131 Advances to the Governor’s Desk
Assembly Bill 2131 (Mullin) passed unanimously through the Senate and the Assembly and is headed to the Governor’s desk! This bill will allow the Department of Social Services to more swiftly implement a single childcare license for all age groups. This will allow providers greater flexibility to serve children at different ages, creating continuity of care for children and families and allowing programs to respond to the challenges posed by the expansion of TK.
