ECKAN Head Start

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ECKANHead Start

• Welcome to

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IntroductionsCenter Contact Information
(Staff and center contact information goes here)
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COMMUNITY ACTION

• ECKAN is a Community Action Agency (CAA).
• CAAs are local, private and public non-profit
  organizations that carry out the Community Action
  Program (CAP), which was founded by the 1964
  Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty by
  empowering the poor as part of the War on
  Poverty.
• CAAs are intended to promote self sufficiency and
  they depend heavily on volunteer work, especially
  from the low-income community.
• (Distribute Brochure)

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ECKANS Mission Statement

• To identify and focus available resources that
  enable eligible families and individuals to
  attain critical skills, knowledge and attitudes
  necessary to achieve self-sufficiency.
• Ultimately, ECKANs vision is to eliminate the
  causes and conditions of poverty in ECKANs
  service area through individual and
  organizational dedication, collaboration, and
  innovation.

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What is Head Start ?

• Head Start encourages the role of parents as
  their child's first and most important teachers.
  Programs build relationships with families that
  support positive parent-child relationships,
  family well-being, and connections to peers and
  community.
• Head Start services are responsive to each child
  and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic
  heritage.

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• Comprehensive services are offered in the areas
  of Education, Parent Engagement (including social
  services supports), Child/Family Transitions,
  Nutrition, and Health Services (including
  physical, dental, and mental health).
• Comprehensive and intentional support is offered
  to promote self-sufficiency, support healthy
  growth and development, and ultimately to reach
  school readiness. 

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What is School Readiness?

• The Office of Head Start (OHS) defines school
  readiness as children being ready for school,
  families ready to support their children's
  learning, and schools ready for the children who
  enter their doors.
• Children's school readiness is measured by the
  skills set out in the five domains of the
• Head Start Child Development and Early Learning
  Framework
• Language and Literacy
• Cognition and General Knowledge
• Approaches to Learning
• Physical Development and Health
• Social and Emotional Development
• Families are engaged in their children's learning
  and development and are poised to support the
  lifelong success of their child. Head Start
  recognizes that parents are their children's
  primary teachers and advocates.
• As Head Start programs, parents, and schools work
  together to promote school readiness and engage
  families as their children make the transition to
  kindergarten, schools become ready for children.

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• ECKAN Head Start Staff will
• Support you as your childs first teacher.
• Provide opportunities for you to be make
  decisions and be involved in your childs
  education.
• Offer volunteer opportunities.
• Provide learning opportunities for you to become
  a stronger advocate for your child.
• Provide health developmental screenings for
  your child.
• Support you to identify and reach family goals.
• Assist you to locate resources to meet needs
  identified by you.

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Services begin with YOU - THE PARENT!!!! Head
Start staff will assist parents/guardians to
identify helpful information and resources that
support you to make decisions that are best for
your family.
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Your INVOLVEMENT is essential for families,
children, and staff to experience SUCCESS in our
program! In order to continue receiving Federal
Funding, each Head Start program must receive
donations from the community. These donations are
called In-Kind donations and they must equal at
least 25 of the total dollar amount that comes
from the Federal Government. In-kind donations
can be in several forms including all time and
goods necessary to provide program services. If
each family provided at least 6 hours of in-kind
each month, ECKAN would easily reach the needed
amount of contribution. Research shows that
children with parents who are involved, are more
successful in school and life!!
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Volunteers in Head Start

• There are a variety of ways you can volunteer,
  including
• -in the classroom, for any portion of the day
• -help assemble book bags
• -assist in the kitchen or with mealtime
• -wash cot sheets and blankets
• -prepare classroom/educational activities
  under the direction of the teacher/home visitor
• -building maintenance, scooping, mowing/lawn,
  bushes, etc.
• -playground maintenance /or health and safety
  checklist
• -daily classroom health and safety checklist
• -making copies or other secretarial work
• -recruitment activities (Chair a recruitment
  committee!)
• -Parent Committees Policy Council
• . and Many, Many, More!
• Help your children develop a love of learning by
  being a part of their education!
• You will love it!

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Parent EventsThere will be many opportunities
two examples include

• Fatherhood Activities We value the involvement
  of men in the lives of children. Events and
  activities will be offered throughout the year to
  encourage the involvement of male role-models in
  Head Start programming.
• Parent Committee Meetings As a Head Start
  parent, you are automatically a member of your
  local parent committee. These meetings are lead
  by parents and include discussion and decision
  making about your classroom, program, and even in
  your community. A representative from your
  committee will be elected to attend Policy
  Council once a month at Ottawas Central office.
• Want to get involved? See a staff member, we
  have
• many things that you can do to help out!
  

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Policy Council

• What? A group of representatives elected from
  each Parent Committee to make program decisions
  regarding staff, budgeting, program options and
  much more!
• When? One meeting per month based on members
  schedules.
• Where? Meetings are located in Ottawa, KS.
  Mileage and childcare reimbursements are paid to
  those involved.
• How? Let your Family Service Worker know that you
  are interested in Policy Council.
• No experience necessary..we offer training.
• Great if you are interested in Parent Leadership.
  
• Give about 2 hours per month.
• Give reports at the parent meetings in your
  center.
• (Mileage, childcare, and meals are provided as
  necessary. See the Parent Handbook and
• talk to your Family Service Worker or Home
  Visitor for more information.)

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Policy andProcedure
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Home Visits

• In the Center-Based option, Teachers and Family
  Service Workers each make two Home Visits, one in
  the Fall and one again in the Spring. They will
  contact you to arrange a time that works best for
  everyone.
• There is a lot of information they will cover in
  a 60-90 minute visit. We ask that you provide a
  smoke-free environment with as little distraction
  as possible.
• Teachers will also arrange two Parent-Teacher
  Conferences each year.

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Your Childs Attendance is VERY Important!Heres
Why

• One of the primary goals of the Head Start
  program is to help prepare children and families
  for kindergarten. (We are actually required to
  submit a school readiness report to the Office of
  Head Start!)
• We are mandated to work with community partners
  to serve as many children/families as possible,
  using all of the resources available in the area.
  (That means we all must work together to serve as
  many of those who qualify and want to
  participate.)
• In the center-based option, breakfast and lunch
  are served each day and education activities are
  being planned for each day. If your child is late
  and you have not called us, your child may be
  given an alternate breakfast and/or lunch that
  meets nutritional guidelines.
• If a child has 4 unexcused absences in a 6 week
  period, a meeting will be held with the parent,
  the Family Service Worker, and/or the Area
  Manager to discuss a solution.
• Proven fact children who are excited about
  school and love learning reach a higher rate of
  educational success than those who do not.
• If a child is ill for 3 days or more, they may
  need a doctors note to come back to school.
• Therefore, it is very important for your child to
  be in school everyday. However, if there is a
  need for them to be gone, i.e. ill or
  appointment, please call the center to let the
  staff know as soon as possible.

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Emergency Contacts

• Parents/Guardians must maintain at least 3 people
  on their Emergency/Contact Pick-Up list.
• A child WILL NOT be released to anyone who has
  not been added to the emergency contact list.
• Parents/Guardians will be given the opportunity
  to update their list at both fall and spring
  conferences, but the list can be changed in
  person by parent/guardian at anytime.
• A written request is the only other form
  accepted. A note must be written and must include
  the persons full name (as on their id) and phone
  number. The note must also be signed and include
  the date the request was made.
• Staff will request I.D. on the person(s) coming
  in to pick up children for the first time.
  

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Children Who Are Not Picked Up

• An authorized adult must pick up the child at the
  end of the school day.
• If the child is not picked up, staff will call
  all numbers on the emergency to find some to pick
  up the child.
• If no one can be reached and the parent has not
  called within 30 minutes of school dismissal, the
  police and/or child protective services will be
  called.
• The child will be turned over as a child in Need
  of Care.

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Notifying Parents in the Event of an Emergency

• All staff is trained in First Aid CPR.
• Staff will call an ambulance if needed and begin
  providing emergency care.
• Staff will contact the parent and give pertinent
  information.
• If there is a fire, children will be evacuated
  and parents contacted,
• if necessary.
• When there is a tornado, all children will stay
  in a tornado shelter.
• During a thunderstorm warning, children will be
  kept inside and parents contacted, if necessary.
• If there is a lock down, all children will be
  kept inside the classroom or center. Children
  will be released at the end of the day unless the
  all clear has not been given. During a lock
  down, parent and children are not to leave or
  enter the building.

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Parent Background Check

• Parents are always encouraged to be a part of the
  classroom with their Head Start child to read,
  eat, sing, share customs, etc.
• Childcare Licensing Regulations require us to
  complete a KBI (Kansas Bureau of Investigation)
  background check on all regular volunteers. If
  the KBI does not come back as cleared, you may
  not be able to volunteer in the classroom.
• Questions can be addressed to the Kansas
  Department of Health and Environment in Topeka.

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Mandated Reporting We want parents to feel
comfortable talking to us about their child.
When concerns about the childs health or safety
arise, staff will bring their concerns to the
parent. Staff is required to report to the local
child protection agency and to their supervisor.
All ECKAN Head Start staff persons are mandated
reporters. This means, if there is any suspicion
regarding a childs well-being, all staff persons
are required by law to report their concerns.
Staff are trained in recognizing and reporting
child abuse and neglect. If you would like
more information about mandated reporting, please
contact your Home Visitor or Family Service
Worker. Trainings can be provided to those who
are interested.
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Holiday/Celebration Procedure

• The policy of the ECKAN Head Start Program is
  that we will not plan or conduct holiday
  activities or celebrations (including birthday
  parties and gift exchanges) during class time or
  socializations.
• Each family varies in the types of holidays
  celebrated and in the ways they are celebrated.
  It is important for each child to learn about
  his/her familys beliefs and traditions at home.
  We value each familys heritage and we do not
  want any of our families or children to feel
  their background or tradition is less important
  than others, as we are unable to fairly observe
  the many cultures and traditions represented
  throughout our program
• (There is more information in your Parent
  Handbook)

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Picture Taking Policy

• No cameras, no cell phones, no video recorders,
  or other picture taking devices are allowed to be
  used during program activities, including
  classroom time, parent events, outdoor
  activities, etc. without prior approval.
• Staff members take pictures of all events and
  will share them with families through their
  childs portfolio.
• This is for confidentiality of all program
  participants.

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Calendar

• Be sure to refer to your calendar for days off,
  special events, etc. ECKAN is typically closed
  the same days as the Public School such as Winter
  and Spring Breaks.

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PROCESS FOR RESOLVING COMPLAINTS Process
Statement The Process for Resolving Community
Complaints is a problem-solving mechanism through
which Head Start families or community members
can make suggestions or raise concerns or
complaints about services. The process should be
viewed as potentially positive for all parties
and should, as far as possible, be managed to
achieve a positive outcome. Through the process
every attempt is made to resolve issues at the
lowest level of authority, keep the issue
localized, involve as few people as possible, and
minimize any disturbance to program
operations. Situations may arise that are not
covered by any existing policy and/or procedure
but seems to merit action these situations may
be addressed through the development of new
policies and procedures that will apply to
similar situations that may arise in the future.
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• General Principles
• Parents and community members are to feel
  comfortable in expressing their concerns directly
  to the individual staff member involved.
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• All concerns should initially be dealt with at
  the level at which they occur. Any complaints or
  concerns by parents or community members should
  be documented by a staff member on a Community
  Parent Complaint Form.
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• Issues alleging criminal acts or danger to
  children are dealt with immediately by program
  officials and other appropriate authorities.
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• If the concern is not resolved at the level of
  occurrence, the appropriate chain of command for
  the respective program should be followed. The
  hierarchy of authority to resolve a parent and/or
  community complaint is as follows
• 1. Originator and staff person
• 2. Supervisor
• 3. Head Start Director
• 5. Policy Council
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• This process does not apply if there are other
  policies /or procedures in place to respond
  (e.g. Agency Personnel Policy).

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Health
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Screenings

• Head Start requires that developmental screenings
  be completed for all children upon entry into the
  program. With written permission from the parent
  or guardian, checks are done for hearing, vision,
  height, weight, speech, educational, and
  social/emotional development. The results of the
  screening will be shared with you following the
  completion of all screening.

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ECKAN is required to meet all of the requirements
of the Head Start Performance Standards.
Federally, we are mandated to support you in
keeping your child up-to-date on physicals,
completing laboratory work, seeing a dentist and
completing medical/ dental referrals for
treatment. We are here to help your family
locate the resources necessary to stay healthy.
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Health Services

• Complete Blood Count (CBC) Between 12-15
  months.
• MCHAT Developmental Screening _at_ 30 months.
• Blood Pressure Annually beginning _at_ age 3.
  
• Lead Screening Verbal lead screenings begin _at_ 6
  months of age and blood lead tests are due _at_ 12
  and 24 months.
• Vision Screening Should be done annually.
• Hearing Screening Should be done annually.
• Dental Screenings Should be done annually.
• Immunizations are due at birth, 2, 4, 6, 12, 15
  months of age and before kindergarten.
• Kan Be Healthy Screens can be done at anytime.
  

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Head Lice

• Head Start understands that head lice is a common
  communicable disease. Children will be checked
  for head lice and nits as needed.
• When a child is discovered to have lice at
  school, the child may remain at school for the
  remainder of the school day. He/She must begin
  treatment before he/she may to return to school,
  as required by state regulation. The Kansas
  State regulation does not require the child to be
  nit free to return to school.
• Shampoo is available through Head Start to help
  assist families in treating the child for head
  lice.

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Medication in the Head Start Classroom

• Only medication prescribed by a doctor will be
  given.
• Over the counter medications will not be given
  unless it is prescribed by a doctor (a doctors
  order written), such things as Benadryl, Tylenol,
  Sunscreens, etc.
• Parent/Guardian permission will be obtained in
  writing, using the state dispensing medication
  form, before medication is given.

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Social-Emotional Health Services

• All families will receive mental health
  information through parent training, brochures,
  home visits, and referrals as needed.
• The Ages Stages Questionnaire, Social-Emotional
  (ASQ-SE) is done by parents teachers to
  identify children who may need further evaluation
  and to help meet the individual needs of each
  child in Head Start.
• Second Step - A Violence Prevention Curriculum is
  implemented in the Head Start classroom. It
  provides engaging lessons and activities that
  teach essential social skills, such as
  problem-solving, emotional management, impulse
  control, and empathy. The social and emotional
  learning program uses hands-on activity-based
  lessons to captivate young learners.

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Child Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

• CACFP is a Federal program that provides healthy
  meals and snacks to children receiving daycare.
• CACFP centers follow meal requirements
  established by USDA.
• Breakfast Milk, Fruit or Vegetable, Grains or
  Bread.
• Lunch Milk, Meat or Meat Alternative, Grains or
  Bread, Two different servings of Fruits or
  Vegetables.

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Notice for Meal Participation

• In order to be a part of the CACFP program, we
  are required to have appropriate amounts of food
  available for each person eating a meal. If you
  would like to eat a meal with your child, please
  contact your center in ample time so they can
  prepare the meal to include your participation.
  Each center has different deadlines for
  notification. Thank you for helping us to make
  your participation in our program an enjoyable
  experience.

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Education
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Head Start Curriculum

• Social /Emotional Development The process by
  which children learn the values and behaviors
  accepted by society. Children learn to become a
  competent and confident person while developing
  positive self-esteem. The goals include 1)
  achieving a sense of self 2) learning and taking
  responsibility for their self and others, and 3)
  behaving in a pro-social way.
• Physical Development The process of developing
  gross motor (large muscle) and fine motor (small
  muscle) growth. The goals include 1) achieving
  gross motor and
• 2) achieving fine motor control.

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Curriculum

• Cognitive Development How the mind works, how
  children think, how they see their world, and how
  they use what they learn. Goals include 1)
  Sustains attention, 2) Understands how objects
  can be used, 3) learning cause and effect, 4)
  Uses problem-solving strategies, and 5) Engages
  in pretend play.
• Language Development The process of
  understanding and communicating through words
  spoken and written. The goals include 1)
  Listening, 2) Speaking, 3) Reading, and 4)
  Writing.

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Creative Curriculum

• The Creative Curriculum provides children with
  opportunities to learn practice newly acquired
  skills. It challenges children to work just
  beyond their present developmental level while
  allowing them to feel safe and valued. In each
  classroom, you will find a copy of the lesson
  plan for the week. The plan will include
  individualized activities based on the childrens
  specific needs, as well as, what is planned for
  the entire week.
• Hand out for Developmentally Appropriate Practice
  

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Safety
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FIRE SAFETY
All families should have a fire escape plan.
Please refer to the guidance in the Parent
Handbook.
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Pedestrian Safety

• (Center Specific Parking Instructions)
• Staff are required to provided the training
  outlined in the Parent Handbook during
  orientation.

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School Bus Safety (Cover the following for all
children and parents.)

• The danger zone is a 10 foot area around the bus
  in every direction. This is the area where the
  bus driver and other vehicles cannot see your
  child.
• Walk towards the bus in view of the bus driver.
  Cars do not always stop for School Buses.
• Always wait until the bus has come to a complete
  stop and the bus driver has signaled that all is
  clear.
• Make sure that your child has safely gotten on or
  off the bus. Clothing and back packs have caused
  injuries to children.

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Car Seat Safety

• Kansas State Law says all children must be in a
  car seat or booster seat until the age of 8 and
  weigh 80 pounds or are 4 feet 9 inches tall.
• Children should ride in back seat until the age
  of 13.
• (Please refer to the Parent Handbook for
  additional guidance.)
• If you need a car seat or booster seat please see
  
• the area manager or family service worker.

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Resources
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Parents Rights in Head Start

• Be welcomed and encouraged to participate in your
  childs activities at any time.
• Be supported as the primary educator and nurturer
  of your child.
• Ask questions and receive information on any
  aspect of the Head Start Program including daily
  operations, policy making and budgeting.
• Express concerns about the program without
  repercussions to themselves or their child(ren).
• Express needs and interests and expect a response
  from the program regarding those expressed needs.
• Offer any opinion or suggestion regarding any
  part of the program and to receive feedback on
  those suggestions and ideas.
• Be treated as an equal with the staff in
  supporting the educational goals of the children.
• Trust that all information gathered will be
  confidential.
• View your childs records with a member of ECKAN
  Head Start Staff upon written request.
• Be listened to and treated with respect and
  dignity at all times.

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Parent Expectations in Head Start

• Have fun with your child! Get on your childs
  level and play!
• Volunteer when and where you can. We are always
  looking for help. Check out our volunteer page
  for information and ideas.
• Make every attempt to meet the program
  requirements.
• Participate in special services, i.e. fatherhood
  events, family activities.
• Communicate with us.
• Share life changes, we are here to support you.
• Share child absences or cancellations.
• Provide a smoke-free and safe environment for
  services to be provided in.
• Follow the complaint procedure if you are unhappy
  with services.
• Use respectful interactions with adults and
  children.
• Please use and model positive language and
  communication at all times.
• (Disrespectful communication may result in a
  meeting with the Area Manager, Family Service
  Worker, and/or Head Start Director).
• Have fun while you are in the program!

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Please sign!

• There is form in the side pocket of your folder,
  please take time right now and fill out, sign,
  and date and leave with the staff!

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Thank You for attending. We are looking forward
to an exciting year with you and your children!
Please plan to volunteer often, in and out of
the Head Start Classroom! ?