Spring 2018 R7HSA Sand Box magazine by Mike Baugher

Spring 2018

HEAD START

SAND BOX

Where Young Learners Play to Learn

Missouriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trauma Learning Collaborative

Foster Grandparents

Safe in Hand

and much more!

On the Road to School Readiness www.R7HSA.com 1

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

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Continuum of Curriculum Birth to Five

Infant • Toddler • Threes • Pre-K Professional Learning, CDA Training & More

The Cornerstones of Frog Street’s Early Childhood Programs: • Early brain development research • Intentional instruction

• Developmental learning domains

• Social and emotional development

Frog Street is a Proud Sponsor of the

Region VII Head Start Association

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Thank You

TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS!

SUSAN KEHOLM, CCAP

STACEY O. WRIGHT Director Missouri Head Start - State Collaboration Office

Development Director SENCA

TINA BERNSKOETTER

SARA BISHOP

Executive Director Missouri Head Start Association

Communications Coordinator Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties

DENNIS HOHL President Command-Solutions, LLC

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

THE SAND BOX EXISTS BECAUSE OF YOU!

T.G.I.

Spring !

I don’t know about you, but that felt like a really long winter to me! It’s so great to feel the warmth of the sun again, and hear the birds celebrate. Spring is a time

Spring 2018

What’s Inside?

of grand tranformation when everything is blooming and colors are bursting forth against the vibrant green backdrop. The time a child spends in your care is also one of grand transformation. You provide a rich environment for them to bloom and grow, and sing and play. The work you do to nurture these saplings (sorry, cheesy I know, but go with me) instills strong roots within them that will hold strong for a lifetime. So put on your overalls

4 Contributors 6

Safe in HandTM

8 A Trauma Learning Collaborative

and carry on! As always, thank you to our contributors for sharing

Emergency Preparedness

June’s Story

their stories and updates. It’s so important that the community see and hear first-hand, the impact Head Start has on communities and families for generations.

16 Promoting Family And thank you to our dedicated business partners

Engagement and Positive

whose ongoing support of Region VII Head Start makes

Health Outcomes

this powerful publication possible. Take time to get to know these wonderful organizations and the products and services they provide, as they partner with us to

Foster Grandparents

Calendar of Events

continuously improve the quality of Head Start programs. If you have an idea for a story for a future issue of the Sand Box, please let me know! Until then, I’m off to plant some flowers.

Inspired by you,

Mike Baugher D irector of Executive Services,

and Publisher of the Region VII Head Start Sand Box TM magazine

Contact us at: R7HSA, 312 SW Greenwich Dr., Ste. 105, Lee’s Summit, MO 64082 Phone: 816.550.6388 Email: mikebaugher@r7hsa.com | R7HSA.com The Region VII Head Start Sand Box™ Magazine is published by Region VII Head Start Association. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect R7HSA’s opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. R7HSA does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in the Region VII Head Start Sand Box™ Magazine is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

“Keeping EVERY CHILD safe, secure, and feeling loved EVERY MOMENT while in our care, is foundational to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.” ANN LINEHAN Acting Director

Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head Start (OHS)

Growing and maintaining a highly-effective program is a tough job, and not every day will be a perfect day. But, if each day children leave their Head Start or Early Head Start environment feeling safe, valued, special, happy, and bathed in love, then it’s been a good day.

No matter your HS/EHS role, some aspect of a child’s life is in your hands. Keep them safe! www.R7HSA.com 816.550.6388 312 SW Greenwich Dr., Ste. 105, Lee’s Summit, MO 64082 ©2018 Region VII Head Start Association. All rights reserved. 6

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

Window Cling/Decal

Entry Door

Wristband

The Region VII Head Start Association is developing an awareness campaign to help support programsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts to create an environment of love and safety for children, families, and staff. With full support of the Office of Head Start, we have created a collection of fun reminders to be displayed proudly throughout Head Start and Early Head Start programs, as well as the community.

T-shirt

Bus Door

Lapel Pin

Tote

HEAD START & EARLY HEAD START Delivered through 1,700 agencies in local communities, Head Start and Early Head Start

Watch for more information about this exciting new awareness campaign and how to be a part of it!

programs provide critical services to more than one million children and their families each year, in every U.S. state and territory, in farmworker camps, and in more than 155 tribal communities.

To learn more about the services provided to Head Start grantees, please visit the Early Childhood and Knowledge Center at https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/ Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

A CASE STUDY: Missouri’s Head Start Trauma Learning Collaborative — A Statewide Collaboration Provided by Stacey Wright, Missouri Head Start State Collaboration Office Excerpt taken from the Strategic Collaboration: Establishing State and Community-Based Partnerships, Seventh Edition, Developed by LeFebvre Consulting, LLC The Missouri Head Start Trauma Learning Collaborative is a state-wide partnership between the MO Head Start Association, the MO Head Start-State Collaboration Office, and the MO Department of Mental Health.

xperiencing trauma and the toxic stress that frequently accompanies it can impact a child’s health, behavior, and ability to learn. While many families face stressful situations, Head Start children and their families can be significantly more at-risk of experiencing trauma in their lives, including parental depression, community and in-home violence, and poverty. The purpose of the Missouri Head Start Trauma Learning Collaborative is to assist participating organizations in their journey to become trauma-informed through training and consultation over a 12-18 month period. These organizations will work to review and revise their policies, practice, and environments through the lens of trauma to support children, families, and staff.

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

As Head Start staff and others who work with young children become trauma-informed, they gain a broader understanding of the signs and symptoms of trauma, learn the widespread impact trauma can have, and become better equipped to support the children and families with whom they work.

Developing the Concept: Ongoing research substantiates that adversity and stress in early childhood can have negative impacts throughout a person’s life. While already working together on a variety of issues affecting young children, representatives from Missouri’s Head Start As-

sociation, Head Start-State Collaboration Office, and Department of Mental Health became increasingly aware of the overreaching impact trauma has on the lives of young children and their families. They began looking at ways Head Start staff and others who work in the field of early childhood could become more proficient at recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma and develop skills to effectively address the potentially negative impacts. A plan was developed that would offer a series of learning opportunities to Head Start and Early Head Start staff. Programs willing to commit to the duration of the process would be provided with expertise, information, and resources regarding trauma awareness. Participating programs are asked to establish a core trauma team, to conduct a self-assessment, and to develop an action plan for their agency. The teams would then participate in an 18-month series of webinars, workshops, and conference calls focusing on the implementation of the action plans and identifying issues, opportunities, and successes. Individualized on-site or phone consultations from the facilitators would be provided as requested.

Taking Action: A total of eight MO Head Start programs established core trauma leadership teams and began participating in the learning opportunities. It was recommended that each team include but not be limited to a Program Director, a Mental Health Coordinator, and a Family Engagement Specialist. If a local educational agency was interested in becoming trauma-informed, a representative from that agency could be included. Through these webinars, workshops, and conference calls the teams are being exposed to the concept of how an organization can become trauma-informed, impacting the ways in which Head Start programs can support not only the children and families that have been affected by trauma, but staff as well. Based on the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s definition of trauma-informed care, the learning collaborative will focus on these four outcomes. Each organization will: • Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understand potential paths for recovery; • Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in children, families, staff, and others involved with the system; • Respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices, and; • Seek to actively resist re-traumatization.

The Results: Involvement in the Head Start Trauma Learning Collaborative and the increased knowledge and understanding of trauma that it embraces is having a marked effect on participating Head Start programs. Team members are facilitating staff meetings for their home programs, disseminating information about the impact of trauma, how to recognize the signs, and appropriate ways to respond with understanding and compassion. As the team members share the knowledge and resources gleaned from the trauma train-

ing events, their programs are beginning to view practices, policies, and environments through the lens of trauma. Staff are learning how to interpret trauma-related behaviors, understand the function of the behaviors, and identify specific strategies and skills they can use that help build resilience in young children. While much of the material is new to Head Start staff, other information lends credence to practices that are already in place. As a result of the Head Start Trauma Learning Collaborative, Head Start programs in Missouri are beginning to experience an organizational culture shift, embracing trauma-informed principles, improving processes and systems, and becoming “trauma-informed.”

Addressing Sustainability: The Head Start Trauma Learning Collaborative offers trauma-related learning and sharing opportunities. Each of the three lead agencies has vested interest in the success, expansion, and continuation of this collaboration. Administrative staff from Missouri’s Head Start State Collaboration Office, Head Start Association, and Department of Mental Health are in the process of identifying short-term and long-term sustainability strategies. Assessment and evaluation components are being considered in order to collect information and data to help determine the future direction and scope of the collaboration. Resources needed to sustain the collaboration will be identified and strategies developed to engage additional Head Start programs and other agencies that support young children and their families. Plans are being explored to offer a second 18-month cycle of learning opportunities with additional Head Start and Early Head Start programs as the initial cycle concludes. As core trauma team members lead discussions and participate in meetings in their home offices, they are finding enthusiasm among staff and an eagerness to expand trauma knowledge and learn specific skills to effectively address the negative impacts it can have. Because of the variety of offerings for trauma resources available in Missouri, the Learning Collaborative participants have access to various networks of resources both within the MO Department of Mental Health and the Trauma Smart Initiative directed by the Crittendon Children’s Center in Kansas City. The Missouri Department of Mental Health, the Missouri Head Start Association, and the Missouri Head Start State Collaboration Office have stayed connected with Trauma Smart sources at Crittenton Children’s Center in Kansas City to aid in compatibility and crossing training as needed. It is anticipated that the interest and excitement generated by the trauma-focused learning opportunities will result in the Missouri Head Start Trauma Learning Collaborative developing into a strong, sustainable, and integral part of Head Start that extends far beyond the initial 18-month time frame. Through the Missouri Head Start Trauma Learning Collaborative, Missouri’s Head Start and Early Head Start staff around the state will have improved trauma knowledge and awareness and receive the organizational support and resoures to become “trauma-informed” programs committed to supporting families and children who have experienced trauma.

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

Emergency Preparedness in Child Care â&#x20AC;&#x201D; More Important Now Than Ever Before by Dennis Hohl, President, Command Solutions, LLC., St. Louis, MO

t is not an understatement to say that everyday life in the United States has changed over the past twenty to thirty years. Especially in just the past seventeen years since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The safety and security of every American citizen has been placed in a more vulnerable state, and the threat comes from many different sources. Some of these sources that we must be concerned about have been with us for as long as recorded time, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados. We are somewhat able to plan and enable ourselves to become better prepared for these types of threat. However, there is a newer realm of threats that we must all work to become better prepared for. Everyday life goes on for each family with children in our country. Many families with children have two working parents, just to earn enough to provide for their children. This is reality for many American families. Our children attend pre-school, daycare, or child care which ever you choose to call it, as the parents work forty hours, and more each week. Fortunately, there are many excellent agencies, organizations, and companies that

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

provide safe and secure facilities for our children every day. The Head Start and Early Head Start program is one of the leading providers for many of our families to depend upon. In fact, the Office of Head Start has displayed excellent leadership in protecting our children. Emergency preparedness is a primary focus of the Head Start programs, and for good reason. Just in the forty-eight months between January 2011, and December 2014 in the United States, there were 309 major disaster and emergency declarations 1(FEMA). That amounts to nearly 6 1/2 major declarations every month. These were due to only natural disasters such as flooding, wild fires, earthquakes, tornados, blizzards, and largely due to the massive impact of Hurricane Sandy in October of 2012. In response to the amount of damage and displaced families during these four years, the Office of Head Start developed the 2015 edition of the Head Start Emergency Manual. The Emergency Manual was there as a valued resource guide in 2017 as major hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate battered

the United States coastal regions. The damage to Head Start centers was significant, with 150 centers in Florida being heavily damaged or destroyed and another 20 in Texas also heavily damaged 2(NHSA). Overall, nearly 100,000 Head Start children were impacted by these storms 3(NHSA). Thankfully, congressional legislation was passed in early 2018 to provide $650 million dollars in disaster relief funding to meet the recovery needs of affected Head Start programs 4(NHSA).

were killed and 851 were injured. We see college campuses and military bases as the scene of these mass killings. The common thread among every one of these mass shooting locations is one thing. They are all “soft targets.” A “soft target” is somewhere with easy access for a shooter, with large numbers of vulnerable people as potential victims.

These are all very unpleasant memories for all of us to consider, but we must learn from the pattern that is so crystal clear. Child Clearly, the need for highly-effective emergency preparedness care facilities are, in fact, a very vulnerable “soft target” for somemeasures is a necessity in providing child care to hundreds of one intent on spreading terror and murder in our society. This is thousands of children and families. Because of lessons learned where increased emergency preparedness can make a difference from these recent major disasters, Head Start centers have an in the outcome of an attack. The most horrific attack was not excellent tool to use as they develop their own individual plans. mentioned above, but we should now look at the Sandy Hook ElUnfortunately, as the emergency preparedness for major natural ementary School shooting for some answers to how we can better disasters has shown great improvement in the aftermath of so protect our children in child care facilities. A total of 28 children many recent events, there is another side of emergency preparedand teachers were killed and 2 were injured in Sandy Hook, but ness that should not and cannot be ignored. several staff and students survived. The proliferation of terrorist and violent attacks against our The very first classroom the shooter came to had already been free and open society has become an epidemic. Generally, startlocked and secured when he attempted to enter that room. The ing with the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah Federal teacher immediately recognized the gunshots and took all the Building in which 168 innocent people were killed, including a children to a previously identified safe area and locked them in daycare center where 15 children were killed, and up to today, with her. None of these children was harmed that day. Kaitlin there has been a steady Roig-DeBellis was that increase in the danger Sandy Hook first-grade we face as a free and teacher, and she saved the open society. The very lives of 15 children that idea that anywhere we day. Unbelievably, the might choose to go is Newtown School Superinsafe from attack is no tendent refused to take any longer valid. additional safety measures and precautions in the We have seen these school’s new building. The tragic attacks in most new classrooms were not of the places we once equipped with a safe place felt safe and secure: to hide, as the one in the high school attacks like school was on the day of YWCA of Metro St. Louis Head Start and Early Head Start Program Incident Command Team. Columbine, in Littlethe shooting. There were Left to Right are Sr. Quality Assurance Administrator Vanessa Vaughan, YWCA Head Start ton, Colorado with 13 no metal grates on the winDirector Stacy Johnson, Sr. Internal Operations Administrator Sheri McCottrell (back to camera) dead, and 21 injured, and Sr. Center Operations Administrator Natalie Redmond, H.R. Manager Veta Crosswhite, and dows, no reinforced door, Dennis Hohl, President, Command Solutions, LLC. Photo credit: Command-Solutions, LLC 2018 recently on February and no second way out of 14, 2018 in Parkland, the classroom. Florida, where 17 were killed and 21 were injured. Churches are now no longer safe after the June 17, 2015 attack on a church in It cannot be clearer after this incident, how vital it is for every Charleston, South Carolina, which left 9 worshipers dead, and school to re-evaluate their emergency plans, preparedness policies then recently the church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas on and procedures, and to increase the levels of protection that November 5, 2017 in which 26 were killed and 20 were injured. are now so clearly needed. It is this very subject that we should concentrate upon, as we recognize the amazing progress and We have seen mass shootings in a movie theatre in Colorado outstanding job that one Head Start Program in Region VII has with 12 killed and 70 injured, and at an office holiday party in achieved. California where 14 died and 22 were injured. A night club in Florida was the scene of a mass murder where 49 died and 58 In St. Louis, Missouri, the Head Start - Early Head Start Prowere wounded, and at an outdoor music concert in Las Vegas, gram is operated by the YWCA of Metro St. Louis. YWCA St. the worst mass shooting in United States history where 58 people Louis Head Start and Early Head Start Program provides services FEMA. Accessed at https://www.fema.gov/disasters/grid/year NHSA News. Accessed at https://www.nhsa.org/pr-update/congress-passes-disaster-relief-funding-head-start

2, 3, 4

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

to more than 1,200 preschool-aged children and more than 200 infants and toddlers, through a network of Early Childhood Education Centers and child care partner locations throughout St. Louis City and County. YWCA of Metro St. Louis is the largest Head Start grantee in the St. Louis region, and is licensed by the Missouri Department of Health-Bureau of Child Care Safety and Licensure. Funding is provided by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services/ Office of Head Start. All centers are accredited by Missouri Accreditation of Programs for Children and Youth. In early 2014, YWCA of Metro St. Louis Director of Head Start and Early Head Start, Mrs. Stacy Johnson, recognized the need to evaluate and increase the levels of emergency preparedness in all their centers, and in the central offices as well. In the summer of 2014, YWCA of Metro St. Louis Head Start Senior Quality Assurance Administrator, Mrs. Vanessa Vaughan, attended the American Red Cross Annual Emergency Preparedness Academy in St. Louis. It was there that she contacted a local Emergency Preparedness Consulting and Training firm, Command-Solutions, LLC.

Soon thereafter, Mrs. Vaughan met with Command-Solutions to discuss the Head Start Programs ideas and needs. Immediately, they developed a strong and lasting partnership. The intent was to provide more and better emergency preparedness training to the center managers at all their locations, evaluate their current emergency plans and make recommendations, inspect each child care facility, and make safety recommendations. As this process began, Command Solutions found a well-prepared organization that needed a bit more focus and different types of training for their staff. The administrative staff of the YWCA of Metro St. Louis Head Start and Early Head Start program has now formed an Incident Command Team, based upon the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity/Continuity of Operations Programs.

Below is a list of the many accomplishments The YWCA of Metro St. Louis Head Start / Early Head Start Program has achieved since 2014 with the assistance of Command-Solutions. • Training for each center was scheduled throughout the year, rotating one center per month • All staff members received Fire Extinguisher Training with live fire scenarios • All staff members have received Enhanced Situational Awareness Training • All staff members have received Evacuation, Shelter-in-Place, and Accountability Training • All centers have been inspected for safety, security, and fire hazards • All centers have received Violent Intruder / Active Shooter Training, including: ~ Individual classroom training with every teacher and staff member ~ Safe shelter areas have been designated and identified in all centers

• All staff members including Central Office staff have received federally-mandated CCDF training in the following areas: ~ Building and Premises Safety ~ Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning ~ Handling, Storing, and Disposing of Hazardous Materials and Biological Contaminants ~ Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases

• Central Office administrative staff have received Violent Intruder / Active Shooter training • All center locations have been provided with an Emergency Resource Manual, which includes: ~ Specific utility control instructions, with photos for gas, water, and electric ~ Complete listing of all contractors for repairs or damage

• All parents at each center have been invited to attend family safety and awareness training sessions with Command Solutions • All executive staff members have completed 8 hours of Incident Command and Management Training

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

The development of this Incident Command Team enables the administrative staff to better manage any event, from the smallest isolated incident that a center might need assistance with, up to and including a mass casualty, or major disaster at one, or several of their locations. Individual “Strike Teams” have been designated for each center location to respond to if needed.

first responder community, and the general business community. Regional and state emergency and disaster resources should all be identified in advance of a major event.

This type of incident response system would be a huge benefit to those Head Start programs with multiple centers. The chart below is based upon programs with 5 or more centers in their program. Research for the Region VII area indicates that an average of 92% of all Head Start Centers in the four-member states of Region VII belong to a multiple center program.

As we have seen, the nature of emergency preparedness for child care facilities must change to match the current type and level of threats and hazards. Natural disasters will never really change what emergency planning needs to accomplish. New hazards like violent intruders, active shooters, bombings and suspicious packages, people driving vehicles into buildings or playgrounds, hazardous chemicals from accidents, and even cyber and communications system attacks should be considered. This type of planning is called “All Hazards.”

The incident management system that St. Louis Metro Head Start has adopted has been modified to match their organization’s current list of job duties and descriptions. The actual duties and responsibilities under an emergency or disaster situation will of course be slightly different than everyday operations, but everyone will be managing an area that they are normally familiar with. The next step that St. Louis Metro Head Start will be taking is to manage a mock tabletop emergency to test their new Incident Management System’s effectiveness.

There are certainly far too many mass shooting incidents to count in the past twenty years, and fortunately, only a very few have involved a child care or day care center. It is up to every individual who works in the child care industry to be vigilant, knowledgeable, and as prepared as possible for any threat, from any source. As we have seen, the Head Start Programs are certainly leading the way, and are doing an excellent job. The key to success is to never stop learning and to always be practicing good emergency preparedness.

As can be seen from the chart below, the actual number of individual center locations that belong to a program with 5 or more centers to manage is quite significant. Individual center locations that do not belong to a group under a program are at a disadvantage in that they are limited in the resources they can depend on in a major emergency or disaster from other Head Start Centers. These centers must develop their own emergency preparedness plans and most certainly should develop strong relationships with their local community emergency response commission,

Command Solutions will be attending the Region VII Head Start / Early Head Start 2018 Leadership Conference and will be the featured speakers at the afternoon session on Tuesday, June 26 at 1:30 pm in the Grand Ballroom, Salon E/F. The topic will be Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management Techniques. We invite all of those in attendance to attend our presentation and stop by to chat with us during the conference.

Region VII Head Start Centers and Programs State Total Total # of Programs % of Programs Centers Programs with 5 or with 5 or more centers more centers

Number of centers affected

Missouri 283 26 24 92% Kansas 146 26 12 46% Nebraska 125 15 9 60% Iowa 212 19 18 95%

% of centers affected

278 98% 120 82% 113 90% 208 98%

Source: Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center, Administration for Children and Families,

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start Locator Page https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/

Author information: Dennis Hohl is the founder and president of Command Solutions, a St. Louis, Missouri based Emergency Planning, Training and Evaluating Consulting firm. Founded in 2013 by retired Fire Department Chief Training Officers, they offer emergency planning, consulting, review, and preparation services to companies, organizations, and businesses of all type and size. Training programs are offered for a wide variety of Emergency, Disaster, and Crisis situations, including Drills and Exercises of all scope. All FEMA trained instructors with over 30 years of professional emergency response and management experience. Dennis may be contacted at 314-409-5304, or dhohl@command-solutions.com. Visit our website at www.command-solutions.com. Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

June and her oldest daugther, Caitlyn.

SENCA – Head Start Success: June’s Story by Susan Keholm, CCAP SENCA Development Director

s with most economically challenged families raising young children in rural southeast Nebraska, their first encounter with SENCA programs and services is often made through Head Start. June’s story not only highlights the advantages of Head Start for children age 3 to 5, such as her nephew Dylan and her oldest daughter, Caitlyn, who each participated in the program, but it clearly focuses on the impact Head Start has on the entire family. June was a young, single mother when she enrolled her extremely shy and introverted daughter, Caitlyn, into the Head Start program at the SENCA Head Start in Table Rock. “Caitlyn had very little socialization skills and was extremely shy around adults and other children,” says June. “Head Start activities were good at helping Caitlyn overcome her shyness,

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

and they also helped us interact better as mom and daughter.” During Caitlyn’s first year of preschool, June participated in many of the opportunities provided to parents/guardians through the Head Start program. These included providing in-kind services by volunteering in the classroom, as well as attending regularly-scheduled parent meetings. With a clear understanding of how important it was to provide a good education for her daughter, when it came to setting goals for herself, June felt it was important to include furthering her education in a career that would allow her to help others. However, it wasn’t until Caitlyn’s 2nd year of preschool when June began to realize that her goal of being the first one in her family to go to college could become a reality.

“If I would not have received the help and encouragement from staff at the Head Start in Table Rock, I would have never had the faith in myself to take on such a challenge,” shares June. “The Head Start staff at the time, included Lisa (Schaardt), Angie (Hunzeker-Shupp), and Anita (Kimpston). I volunteered in the classroom several times a week, and Anita, who was the Family Services Advocate at that time, would help me fill out scholarship and grant applications. The support provided through those funding opportunities was the only way I could afford to go to college.” Thankfully all the hard work invested by June and her Head Start support team paid off. She was awarded funding to start college; however, the program she applied for, Human Services, had a year wait before she could begin. Ironically, June started college the same time that Caitlyn entered Kindergarten, both mom and daughter ready to be successful in their educational journeys. June worked hard to achieve a very important goal she set for her and her family, and in 2006, she graduated from Southeast Community College with an Associate Degree in Human Services. That same year, June and her family relocated to Bern, Kansas, and June spent the next ten years working in two Kansas school systems — Bern for six years and Axtell for four years. June worked as a paraprofessional educator and was instrumental in working with youth, ages preschool through 12th grade, focusing on the areas of Title 1 and at-risk youth.

“

Head Start activities were good at helping Caitlyn overcome her shyness and they also helped us interact better as mom and daughter.” ~ June Then in 2017, June’s dream of working with the Head Start program that was such an instrumental part of her life, came true, when she accepted a position as a program aide for NEK-CAP (Northeast Kansas Community Action Partnership). In her current position, June assists the classroom teacher and drives the bus for the 18 preschool students enrolled in the program. June is also taking classes through the KCCTO (Kansas Child Care Training Opportunity) program offered through Kansas State University, with a goal of realizing her ambition of attaining certification in Child Development. June is grateful for her involvement with the SENCA Head Start program and the impact that it has made on her career and her family. June and her husband, Thad reside in Bern, Kansas. Together they have four children, two grandsons, and are in the process of adopting four foster children into their family. June’s oldest daughter Caitlyn lives in Richardson County with plans to enroll her son in the local SENCA Head Start program in the upcoming school year. Caitlyn hopes to follow her mom’s inspiring example and establish a career focused on working with children.

About SENCA Southeast Nebraska Community Action Partnership Inc. (SENCA) is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that was incorporated on May 2, 1966 under the provisions of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. The business, property, policies, programs, and affairs of the corporation are determined and managed by a tripartite volunteer Board of Directors representing the six county service area of Cass, Otoe, Johnson, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson. The agency offers a variety of programs and services focusing on the areas of: Community Economic Development, Family Outreach, and Youth Education. Each of these programs are specifically aimed to reduce poverty, revitalize communities, and empower low-income households to become financially independent. Vicky McNealy, SENCA Executive Director, leads a team of 60 trained and dedicated staff with the ongoing mission of “Investing in our neighbors through education and partnerships to improve lives and build strong communities in southeast Nebraska.” SENCA is one of nine Community Action Agencies serving Nebraska and one of more than 1,100 Community Action Agencies nationwide. To learn more about SENCA please visit www.senca.org.

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

Missouri Head Start Launches New Opportunity: Aims to Promote Family Engagement and Positive Health Outcomes by Tina Bernkoetter, Missouri Head Start Association

y design and with great intention, Head Start and Early Head Start programs have a profound and meaningful opportunity to work alongside families to address needs that support their child’s school readiness. The comprehensive approach of Head Start works to address many facets of the health of children and families. It is MHSA’s belief that this sensitive and oftentimes challenging work is best fulfilled in a nurturing and supportive environment. The Missouri Head Start Association recently entered into a new and exciting endeavor with Missouri Care, a HealthNet Managed Care health plan for the state. Our shared vision is to provide an opportunity for professional development for Head Start and Early Head Start program staff that aims to improve strategies for family engagement towards healthier outcomes for

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

families and children. The learning collaborative, which began in February, includes intensive instruction for staff on beginning and fostering professional relationships with staff and families to ensure meaningful communication about the health and well-being of their child and the role that families play as health advocates for their little ones. “As we know, family and community engagement has been a central tenet of the Head Start program throughout its history. We believe this innovative learning collaborative honors this history and has the potential to further advance staff ’s capacity to enhance the parent-child relationships that are so central to a child’s healthy development, school readiness, and well-being,” said Stacey Wright, Director of the MO Head Start-State Collaboration Office.

“

Missouri Care is committed to helping the members of the communities we serve to live better, healthier lives. Our partnership with Missouri Head Start allows us to work together to address the comprehensive health needs of each child attending Head Start.” ~ Lou Gianquinto, President of Missouri Care, Inc.

The 10-month collaboration will include both intensive in-person and webinar instructions monthly for the teams coming from 4 programs across Missouri and built-in supports for coaching from an outside independent early-childhood consultant. “Missouri Care is committed to helping the members of the communities we serve to live better, healthier lives. Our partnership with Missouri Head Start allows us to work together to address the comprehensive health needs of each child attending Head Start,” said Lou Gianquinto, president of Missouri Care, Inc. “It allows us to not only improve the health and well-being of children, but leads to engagement and positive outcomes for the entire family.” Teams committed to this process are working through local planning processes and sharing of resources with other collaborative members. As this process progresses, MHSA looks forward to the opportunity to share more with our colleagues and partners across Region VII.

www.missouricare.com

JOIN US IN THE HEAD START TM SAND BOX To find out how to advertise or include a story in upcoming issues of the Region VII Head Start Sand Box magazine, send an email to mikebaugher@r7hsa.com. Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

Seated at a table in the middle of the room is Grandma Joyce, lifting a bright-eyed toddler in pigtails with a shy smile onto her lap.

COMMUNITY ACTION’S FOSTER GRANDPARENTS: ROLE MODELS, MENTORS, AND FRIENDS by Sara Bishop, Communications Coordinator Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties

he first thing you notice when you walk into Community Action’s K Street Head Start Center’s “Elephant Classroom” are the tiny tables and chairs that are just the perfect height for the toddlers who sit on them everyday, eager to learn. Surrounding the tiny tables are even tinier cubbies, each with a picture of the child it belongs to. Laminated balloons with each child’s birthday float above a precious little play kitchen in the corner of the classroom. Colorful posters with letters and numbers line the walls of the room. And sitting at a table in the middle of the room is Grandma Joyce, lifting a bright-eyed toddler in pigtails with a shy smile, onto her lap.

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

When Grandma Joyce first moved to Lincoln from Chicago, she found she had little to fill her days. Her neighbor suggested she check out Community Action’s Foster Grandparent Program. After learning that the program would allow her to provide oneon-one mentoring to assist children with developing the skills they need to be ready for kindergarten, Joyce knew it would be a perfect fit for her. “I love everything about this program,” said Joyce. “I love watching the children learn and grow. I love seeing them use the social skills they seem to gain each day. It is such a rewarding gift to be able to help them get ready for school.”

The Foster Grandparent Program is made possible through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The grant allows Community Action to place seniors in classrooms within the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two early childhood education centers in Lincoln. Foster Grandparents partner with Head Start classroom teachers to complete lesson plans, facilitate small group activities and mealtime discussions, and guide children through their daily routines. Joyce has had such wonderful memories within the program. She recalled a particular time when the children were missing their favorite teacher while she was on vacation in Florida. Joyce and other classroom staff came up with an adventure for the children to make them feel like they were visiting her. They lined up the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buggies in order so they resembled cars on a train. Children were given tickets to ride this imaginary train, which took them on a journey around the center. The children waved at everyone they saw until they reached their final destination, a space complete with paper palm trees, a sandbox, and other fixtures to resemble the Sunshine State. Joyce recalled the children being so happy, and it is these kinds of experiences that make Joyce question if she will ever retire. Foster Grandparents are individuals that are 55 or older, have income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and serve 20 hours or more each week. Just some benefits of serving within the program include a stipend, professional development opportunities, and mileage reimbursement. However the most important benefit of being a Foster Grandparent is the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.

Babies love Grandma Vertie, a dedicated foster grandparent.

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM LEARNING CENTERS—THE SKY’S THE LIMIT! Sharron Krull Blog – January 5, 2018 • www.sharronkrull.com

pen the door and turn your learning environment inside out. Maximize outdoor play by moving learning centers outdoors, opening up new possibilities for stimulating children’s creativity, self-discovery, and imagination. Children can do virtually anything outside that they can do inside—the sky’s the limit! By providing outdoor learning centers, teachers can change materials and props depending on the interests and ideas that emerge from the children. Whether you have green space or not, here are some ideas of what centers you might include in your outdoor learning environment.

Science & Nature Center

Science comes alive as children explore nature and make first-hand observations. Provide containers which children can use to collect their findings (i.e., leaves, sticks, rocks, mud) and a table where they can explore the items with all their senses. Provide tools for investigations: magnifying glasses, binoculars, bug jars, tweezers, rulers).

Region VII Head Start Sand BoxTM | Spring 2018

Sand & Water Center

Not every outdoor environment can have a sandbox, but they can easily accommodate a sand and water table. This learning center is the best place for messy play, as it is suitable for many sensory experiences. Sand and water equals math and science learning! They alone or together provide opportunities for endless experimenting.

Dramatic Play Center

Set the stage to inspire children’s imagination through dramatic play outside. Dramatic play allows children to make sense of the adult world in a child-friendly setting. It also develops necessary skills in cooperation, language, role-play, and leadership. Put an outdoor kitchen near the sand area and discover “what’s cooking.” All that “good food” needs to be eaten. An outdoor picnic table just their size makes for family-style dining.

Art Center

Children who may not participate in art experiences indoors may join in willingly when art is presented in the familiar and comfortable territory of the outdoors. An easel (free standing or hanging easel) is a must to include. If no easel, a wall, chain-link or wood fence and butcher paper provides many opportunities for children to work on vertical surfaces.

Block/Construction Center

Take block play to new heights by moving them outside. Many engineering feats are possible with block play. The block construction area encourages language, social engagement, cooperation, problem-solving, creativity, imagination and self-esteem. It can be taxing transporting those wooden indoor blocks outdoors. Foam blocks designed to look just like real cinder blocks, bricks, planks, and concrete pavers are lightweight. Plan for them to have their own “home” outside, thus being available and accessible to the children. Children enjoy having accessories to use with block play. Small cars, trucks, animals, and people extend children’s ideas.

I’m not finished yet! Having been an Outdoor Teacher for 12 years, I’m looking forward to sharing a few more learning centers and many activities that you can include in your outdoor classroom. The sky’s the limit!