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News: 1st Quarter 2024
January, February, March
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Happy 59th Birthday: Head Start!
Head Start is an important cornerstone of the social and educational investment the United States has undertaken for children, families, and communities. It is the national commitment to provide children, ages 0-5 years old, with the foundation they need to thrive and set them up for a lifetime of learning and growth in school and in the wider world.
“Project Head Start” was launched in 1965 as a comprehensive child development program. Over the last six decades, it has served more than 39 million children and families. Happy Birthday, Head Start!
Source: NHSA
Learn More
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Welcome to our 1st quarter newsletter edition!
In this edition, GHSA features news about our organization, members, alumni and collaborative partners and how we support Head Start and Early Head Start in Georgia. The support we provide helps Head Start programs and staff deliver Head Start's high-quality comprehensive services to vulnerable children and families. In Georgia, over 23,000 children and families receive Head Start services and nearly 6,813 staff deliver these services in 1,648 Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms in 350 centers across Georgia.
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Army Sergeant
Kennedy Sanders
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GHSA Pays Respect to Head Start Alumni
WAYCROSS, Ga. – The Waycross community gathered to honor Army Sergeant Kennedy Sanders, the 24-year-old who was among the three soldiers killed in a drone attack in Jordan in late January.
Family, friends, veterans, and colleagues paid their respects at Sanders’ wake. Many of them wore purple – her favorite color including the staff at Action Pact, Inc. in Waycross, GA, the Program were Sgt. Kennedy Sanders got a Head Start as a child enrolled in the Program there.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also attended the wake, spoke with Sanders’ parents and entered the city auditorium where she laid in honor. “There’s no greater sacrifice in this country than what she gave, and it was well and good that we should honor that,” Kemp said.
Patricia Dawson Fields told News4JAX she’s known the Sanders family for decades.
“She’s just a kid doing the best she could do for our country. She was serving our country. She was not serving herself. She was just absolutely lovely. She died doing what she loved to do,” Fields said.
Source: News4Jax
Ann Maxwell
I-TEAM and general assignment reporter
Read More
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GHSA Returns to Georgia's Gold Dome for Susie Wilcher Day
Rep. Mack Jackson of Sandersville, GA stands at the podium on the floor of Georgia's state Capitol and recognizes the Georgia Head Start\Early Head Start representatives visiting the Gold Dome for its second annual Susie D. Wilcher Day on January 10, 2024.
GHSA's mission is provide advocacy to support Georgia Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Although, these are federally funded preschool programs through the Department of Health and Humans Services, the Programs have a strong collaborative presence at the state level with Georgia Pre-K, SNAP, WIC, the Department of Children and Family Services, Babies Can't Wait, Quality Rated, etc. Programs also have community ties locally with the Department of Social Services and Health Districts and other local county agencies and organizations.
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HEAD START TO RECEIVE $12.7B AS RECORD INVESTMENT
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives proposed over $750,000,000.00 in cuts to Head Start for PY 2023-24 impacting roughly 80,000 children and families nationwide and nearly 2,200 in Georgia. Those proposed cuts were later reduced by Congress to $100,000,000.00. Finally, the fiscal year budget was passed and signed into law by President Biden with a record investment of $12.7 billion for Head Start. The bill includes $275 million for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which amounts to a COLA of approximately 2.3% for Head Start staff. The bill also includes $8 million for the Tribal Colleges and Universities-Head Start Partnership Program, as well as long sought after significantly expanded eligibility rules for the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start and American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs.
Read More
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Early Head Start Dashboard
Workforce
Child care workers are essential to children's learning and development and serve as a vital support for families. Effective, nurturing, and responsive teaching practices and interactions are key for all learning in early childhood settings. Early Head Start staff work with children to build on their patterns of development and learning to support social, emotional, behavioral, and language development.
Early Head Start Dashboard
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GHSA is Welcomed in Washington
In January, 27 representatives from Georgia Head Start programs visited Crystal City, VA during the annual National Head Start Association's Winter Leadership Institute. The group traveled over to the Nation's Capitol on Wednesday, January 24th to participate in Capitol Hill Day. The day is set aside for representatives to visit with Congressional members and share information about their Programs with their elected congressional leaders. While visiting the Capitol, the group visited with legislative staff from the offices of Rep. Nikema Wiliams, Rep. Hank Johnson, and had the pleasure of meeting in person with Senator Jon Ossofff and Senator Raphael Warnock.
| *Picture in the photo to the right is Georgia's US Senator Jon Ossoff addressing constituents at his Welcome to Washington Event. Georgia Head Start representatives were in attendance. | |
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Director's Spot Light
Mrs. Tajuannya Tripp McBride is a native of Attapulgus, Georgia, north of Tallahassee Florida. Mrs. McBride is married to Mr. Rodney McBride, 31 years. She has three daughters, Britney McBride Adams (Styles), Brionna McBride, and Briah McBride, and one beautiful granddaughter, Wynter Weldon. She has an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, minor in Special Education, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership.
Her love for serving children and families has continued to grow throughout her journey over the past 30 years. Mrs. McBride has worked for McIntosh Trail Early Childhood Development Council, Inc., since March 1, 2010 as an Administrator, Program Director, and currently as the Executive Director/Program Director where she currently leads and oversees Early Head Start, Head Start, and Pre-k programs in Butts, Henry, Spalding, Newton, Lamar, Pike, and Upson counties. She is currently serving as the 1st Vice President of the Georgia Head Start Association and a member of the Region IV Head Start Association Board.
Her educational path has been guided by Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, “Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn.”
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OHS Director Visits Columbus
The Office of Head Start Director, Khari M. Garvin has been busy making his rounds visiting Programs around the nation. In early March, he came down to Columbus, GA where he was greeted with a hearty southern welcome by the staff of the Enrichment Services Program, a Community Action agency established in 1964 in Columbus. The Agency provides services to 869 Head Start and 440 Early Head children and families in 11 Georgia counties.
More About ESP
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*Above: Kelvin Thomas, Head Start\EHS Director gives Director Garvin a tour of a Head Start classroom. | |  |
*Above ESP staff shares with Director Garvin how the Program tracks in-kind donations. | | |
*GHSA Executive Officer, Juanita Yancey poses with BCDI ECE Summit Participant from India. | *GHSA Executive Officer is pictured with other ECE Leader Panelists during the Summit's opening session on Cultural Diversity and Inclusiveness. | * Head Start Award Recipients pose for a group photo after the BCDI Community Leadership Awards ceremony. | |
Atlanta's BCDI 2024 Annual ECE Summit and Community Leadership Awards
The Black Child Development Institute of Atlanta held its 5th Annual Culturally Responsive ECE Leadership Summit & Awards celebration on February 20-21, 2024 in Atlanta, GA. Two Georgia Head Start professionals were nominated and become the recipients of two BCDI Community Leadership awards. Both recipients are from the Head Start staff of Coastal Plain Area EOA of Valdosta, GA. The recipients are Dr. Tanya Thomas and Mr. Feliciano Lewis. Both recipients are picture below with Dr. Bisa Lewis, President of BCDI Atlanta.
More About BCDI- ATL
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Dr. Tanya Thomas is the 2024 recipient of The Elaine Banks Collins Early Care and Education Award. This award is presented to a determined early childhood professional who coordinates programs and training to increase the high quality of a culturally and racially diverse workforce across the birth to 8 continuums. Dr. Thomas is the Executive Director\Head Start Director for Coastal Plain Area EOA in Valdosta , GA.
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Coach Feliciano Lewis is the 2024
recipient of The Powerful Families Award. This award focuses on creating opportunities for and addressing the needs of both children and families together ultimately leading to improved family economic stability.
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GHSA Executive Officer:
Juanita Yancey
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GHSA Executive Officer Appointed to Leadership Team
The Georgia Head Start Association (GHSA) has been officially approved as a standing organization on the Strengthening Families Georgia (SFG) Leadership Team. This decision reflects recognition of the vital role that the organization plays in advocating for families and children within the state.
In acknowledgement of this approval, an invitation to join the SFG Leadership Team as a representative of the GSHA has been extended to the Executive Officer of the organization. "Your dedication and substantial expertise are invaluable, and we are excited about the perspective and leadership you will bring to our collective endeavors" says Kendra Cole, SFG Project Coordinator.
As a member of the SFG Leadership Team, GHSA will have the opportunity to contribute to strategic discussions, participate in the development of initiatives, and help guide SFG towards achieving its objectives. The Executive Officer has accepted the invitation and has joined the SFG Governing Committee.
Learn More about SFG
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GCU Online Cohort Opportunity for Georgia Head Start Staff and Parents Up to 25% off Tuition Program
START AN ONLINE
SUMMER COHORT PROGRAM
Contact:
Renee Gresham Crawford, MBA
University Development Manager
(602)247-2955
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Protecting Your Health, Your Babies, Children, and Loved Ones
A direct and compelling headline
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The Georgia Head Start Association, in partnership with Georgia CEAL-Morehouse School of Medicine and
NIH Community Engagement Alliances has produced a public service announcement regarding the COVID 19 vaccine.
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In the public service announcement former Head Start Parent, Komisha Davis discusses concerns and support for the COVID 19 vaccine. Click on the video above to hear what Komisha has to say. | | | |
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October is Farm to School Month
The Georgia Head Start Association is happy to be an official proud partner with Georgia Organics for the ParSLAY the Day campaign celebrating Farm to School Month during October 2024.
Georgia Organics is thrilled to announce that SIGN UP IS NOW OPEN for the 2024 October Farm to School Month campaign, ParSLAY the Day!
Brace yourselves for a parsley campaign that's about to add some serious spice and flavor to the mix! All participants will receive FREE access to the online toolkit filled with activities, GA standards-based lessons, recipes, school nutrition resources and more, all available in late July.
But don't be late to the parsley party! The first 300 individuals to sign up can choose to be mailed a FREE packet with seeds, washable tattoos and printed materials!
To learn more about this event, click the text link ParSLAY the Day below.
ParSLAY the Day
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Georgia's State Head Start Collaboration (HSCO)Highlights!
“A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health and deserves the same quality of support.” Kate Middleton, The Princess of Wales.
The week May 6-10, 2024 was observed as Children's Mental Health Week to help raise awareness about this important factor in a child’s development, according to Commissioner Amy Jacobs with Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning.
Children develop social and emotional skills—mental health—through strong, nurturing relationships with the adults in their lives. There is a window of opportunity in early childhood to establish the foundation for a child’s emotional wellbeing throughout life. During Children’s Mental Health Week, activities are promoted that help children develop social emotional skills. The week also celebrates the profound impact of early learning professionals and all caregivers on the emotional wellbeing of young children. Source: DECAL.gov
During the Georgia Head Start Association's annual Spring Conference held May 8-10, 2024 Allison Setterlind, Georgia's Head Start Collaboration Director, shared information regarding the week's activities with Head Start and Early Head Start staff in attendance to celebrate the many ways mental health is lifted up in the program.
Setterlind also conducted leadership level discussions about the importance of inclusive settings for the children and families served with disabilities in Head Start and Early Head Start.
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Allison Setterlind
Georgia Head Start State Collaboration Director (pictured above).
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Georgia AIMH
The Georgia Infant Mental Health Association launched in November 2022 with a special event with many state partners in attendance. GA-AIMH will be housed at Georgia State University with a statewide emphasis on building a system of care that includes promotion, prevention, and treatment for Georgia’s youngest children. The new Association will include endorsement opportunities beginning this summer for staff in Head Start to add the Infant Mental Health endorsement to their credentials. You can join now individually for just $25 annually and begin receiving their newsletters with professional learning and endorsement-related updates!
https://aimh.gsu.edu/
Georgia AIMH will host a Circle of Security Training June 3-6, 2024 at GSU Clarkston Campus.
Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) is a manualized attachment-based program used internationally with parents and other caregivers of children under 6. This four-day training seminar leads to certification and is designed to help professionals understand both the theory and research underlying our video-based parenting reflection program and how to deliver the COSP program effectively. COSP is based on decades of attachment research and offers an accessible step-by-step intervention process designed for group intervention but also used in home visitation and for individual or couples counseling.
GA aimh
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Carolyn Heyliger-Graham
Sales Representative
Learning Genie
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Spotlight on GHSA New Corporate Members
Learning Genie
Introducing Learning Genie, the distinguished solution driving excellence in reliable two-way Family Engagement, digital In-Kind (non-federal share), and DRDP Assessment tracking for Head Start programs. Our comprehensive suite redefines family engagement with its culturally attuned features, ensuring every interaction is meaningful and inclusive.
Empowering families and children, our platform facilitates seamless two-way messaging, with auto-translation capabilities spanning over 100 languages. Dive into a wealth of learning resources, from captivating video books to interactive media, fostering an immersive educational experience.
Stay informed with intuitive event management tools and instant school notifications. Administrators gain real-time insights through our dynamic dashboard, fueling Continuous Quality Improvement efforts.
Simplify compliance with our innovative In-Kind (Non-Federal Share) tracking and reporting tool, facilitating seamless, digital data collection and real-time reporting - there's no more waiting for staff to manually enter in-kind information.
Meet Carolyn Heyliger-Graham, your dedicated sales representative for Georgia agencies. Reach out to Carolyn at carolyn.g@learning-genie.com to embark on your Learning Genie journey.
Join the thousands of users across the country who trust Learning Genie to elevate their Head Start programs. Experience the difference today at www.georgiaheadstart.org or click here: www.learning-genie.com.
About Learning Genie
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Georgia Care Kit
This Care Kit was collated by Caring Across Generations and was created to be a helpful guide on care resources in
Georgia. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns on any of the resources– or if you’d like help accessing any of these resources – please email
Angela.Holton@caringacross.org.
Click here to view the toolkit.
To obtain a Care Kit, click below:
Care Kit
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Upcoming Events
NHSA State Association Leadership Summer Meeting: July 29-August 3, 2024|Alexandria, VA
RIVHSA Leadership Summit
June 11-14, 2024| Atlanta, GA
Georgia Community Action Conference
July 16-19, 2024|Savannah, GA
Georgia Municipal Association Annual Convention| June 21-22, 2024| Savannah, GA
GHSA
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To learn more click on the web link below. You can now pay and renew your membership online. It's just that simple!
Become A Member
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GHSA Member Spotlight
Trina Marks began her career in Early Childhood Education at Genesee County Community Action Resource Department as a Lunch Classroom Aide/Assistant to the Lead and Assistant teachers in 1995. While working on her degree, I became a Head Start Lead Teacher substitute for several Head Start classrooms. Trina became a Program Director for Gloria’s Little Angels until she became the Owner/Director of Future Leaders Development Center. She worked for a Head Start delegate program as a Parent Educator/Home Visitor until becoming the Team Leader. She then transitioned from Head Start to became the Michigan State University Child Development Laboratories Program Director Outreach Assistant. She was the overseer of the main campus laboratory. Trina returned to a Head Start program and became the Education
Coordinator, an Education Specialist, Program and Information Analyst and a Center Manager. In 2016, she was the Director of Education for Shine Early Learning. Trina was also a former a Center Manager and transitioned to a Learning and Teaching Coach for Enrichment Services Program Inc. in Columbus, GA.
Trina's philosophy is "children should never leave the same as they came when taught by caring educators."
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Donnis Pace, MPA
GHSA President
Head Start\EHS Director
Tallatoona CAP, Inc.
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Juanita Yancey, MBA
GHSA Executive Officer
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