October Is Head Start Awareness Month! |
October 2023| Special Issue |
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Vice-President Kamala Harris Meets Georgia Head Start Children! |
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Vice President Harris Visits Atlanta |
*Photo to the left. The four-year-old YMCA Atlanta Head Start students in the Face Book post is meeting Vice President Kamala Harris as she arrived in Atlanta to speak at Morehouse College.
The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is the largest provider of Head Start programming for children ages Birth to Four in the State of Georgia.
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GHSA Goes to Washington to help Fulfill the Promise! |
Thirty-one staff representatives from Georgia Head Start\Early Head Start programs across the State landed on the Nation's Capitol with Head Starters across the country to encourage elected officials in Congress to fulfill the promise in its commitment to provide pre-school children from low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their social, emotional, health, nutritional and educational needs. Fulfill the Promise is a campaign organized by the National Head Start Association (NHSA). Georgia staff representatives were on hand to help fulfill the promise of Head Start during the 2023 NHSA Fall Leadership Institute which featured Senator Raphael Warnock as the opening Keynote Speaker.
*Photo above: Georgia Head Start program staff representatives are pictured above posing with Georgia's U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff during the Senator's Welcome to Washington event held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Senator Ossoff visited the Augusta, GA Head Start program where he announced $15M in funding to the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority to support 11 of their local counties served by the agency. “There is an unmet need when it comes to early childhood education. It’s never enough,” said Ossoff. Source: MSN| Story by: Hallie Turner |AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT)
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Senators Warnock/Braun Get It: The Childcare Workforce is in Crisis! |
Georgia's Senator Raphael Warnock provided a rousing Keynote address during the 2023 National Head Start Association Fall Leadership Institute. During the speech Senator Warnock announced proposed legislation crafted by him and Republican Senator Mike Braun of Indiana. The bipartisan HEADWAY Act (Head Start Education and Development Workforce Advancement and Yield Act would address early child care workforce shortages by allowing Early Head Start classroom teachers to teach and earn their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential simultaneously. Senator Reverend Warnock: “I’m so excited to introduce my bipartisan HEADWAY Act, a bill I’m offering with my partner, Senator Mike Braun, that will help strengthen our childcare workforce. This is good public policy for Georgia and the nation, and I’m determined to get this passed”.
*Above photo: Georgia Head Start program staff representatives are pictured above posing with Georgia's U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock during the Senator's Coffee Reception event held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.
*Photo right: Georgia Head Start program staff representatives are pictured above posing with Georgia's U.S. House of Representative Sanford Bishop in his legislative office during the NHSA Fall Leadership Institute Capitol Hill Day event held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. Rep. Bishop is a ranking member of the House Budget Appropriations Committee. Georgia Head Start representatives also met with staff from Georgia Representative Andrew Clyde's legislative office. Rep. Clyde is also a member of the Appropriations Committee.
#Fulfillthepromise.
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Special Highlight: Early Head Start Rising Project |
The Early Head Start Rising Vision
In 1995, the creation of Early Head Start (EHS) marked a commitment to extend the Head Start model of whole-child and whole-family support for three- and four-year olds to pregnant women, infants and toddlers. Yet, the EHS model has only grown incrementally and today reaches only 1 in 10 income-eligible children. In fact, there is a 450,000 gap between funded Head Start and Early Head Start slots. Similarly, our nation’s investment in high-quality and affordable infant and toddler child care has been far too modest and resulted in a fragile child care system.
Just as Head Start served as the model for the creation and expansion of state pre-K, we believe Early Head Start can serve as the model and catalyst for expanded infant and toddler care and support.
In 2021, GHSA worked with the National Head Start Association, the Georgia Head Start Collaboration Office, Transform Consulting Group and a team of Georgia early childhood Advocates and in January 2022 produced Early Head Start Data briefs to educate legislators, stakeholders, and the general public about the need and benefits of Early Head Start. Please visit our website to review the data briefs by clicking below:
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Spotlight on Georgia Head Start Alumni: Sen. Raphael Warnock
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U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), is one of only two Head Start alumna to ever serve in the Senate.
“As a proud Head Start alumnus, I know the foundations I learned in Savannah helped pave the way for a kid like me to go from living in public housing to becoming a United States Senator,” said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. “I’ve seen how hard it is for hardworking Georgia families to get affordable, quality child care, partly because of the lack of childcare professionals in their communities–which puts a strain on parents and hurts our economy. And as the father of two young kids, I know how crucial education in those formative years is to their continued growth."
Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock grew up in Kayton Homes public housing in Savannah, born one of twelve brothers and sisters raised in coastal Georgia. A graduate of Savannah’s Sol C. Johnson High School, Senator Raphael Warnock’s mother and extended family still live in the Savannah area.
Senator Warnock is a proud graduate of Morehouse College; after graduating from Morehouse, he went on to earn a PhD and begin his career ordained in the ministry. For over 16 years, Senator Warnock has served as Senior Pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the former pulpit of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He is the youngest pastor selected to serve in that leadership role at the historic church.
Senator Warnock was elected to the United States Senate on January 5, 2021, in a special election runoff for the term ending January 3, 2023, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Johnny Isakson, a seat previously held by appointed Senator Kelly Loeffler. He took the oath of office on January 20, 2021.
to learn more about Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock, visit the Senator's website at
In August, Senator Reverend Warnock helps a young Georgian (*photo above) tie his shoes at Savannah’s Early Head Start facility. U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock greets a young student and Head Start teacher at the Economic Opportunity Authority for Savannah Program (*center photos). GHSA President, Donnis Pace and Executive Officer, Juanita Yancey presents Sen. Warnock with the NHSA Pledge award in January (*bottom photo).
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Head Start is Heart Work! |
For many years, the Head Start logo featured the red, white, and blue building blocks with an arrow representing upward mobility. In 2023, the new logo features the building blocks, but incorporates five priorities identified by the Office of Head Start connecting these in puzzle pieces in the shape of hearts!
The Office of Head Start (OHS) continually works toward the mission for eligible children and families to receive high-quality services in safe and healthy settings to prepare children for school and life. OHS has five national priority areas to support this mission. At the center of each is an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging.
To learn more about the Office of Head Start National priorities click on the text link below.
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Planting Pink Pinwheels in the Peach State |
In observance of Head Start Awareness Month and to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, Head Start and Early Head Start children across Georgia will be planting and harvesting Pink Pinwheels! This is the second annual sowing of the pink pinwheels which aims to cover the state with representation of every child in Head Start programs in Georgia. What a site it would be to see thousands of little pink pinwheels across the peach State!
In 2022, children in Head Start programs from North, Central, and South Georgia participated in the Pink Pinwheels project.
Health is a one of Head Start's high quality comprehensive services and pregnant women receive prenatal services in Georgia's Early Head programs.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the United States and in Georgia. Early detection is critical; cancers found earlier are more likely to be treated successfully, and women are surviving longer with breast cancer. Source: https://dph.georgia.gov/BCCP
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US House Rep. Lucy McBath visits Sheltering Arms |
In July, Georgia's congressional Representative Lucy McBath (GA 07) toured Sheltering Arms for Kids during a visit to the Atlanta area. Sheltering Arms is one of Georgia's thirty-two federal Head Start grantees.
The Program's total Head Start child enrollment is comprised of 987 children of which 288 are Early Head Start age three and younger and 699 are Head Start age children three to age five.
In the photo left, Rep. McBath is shown with Sheltering Arms CEO, Blythe Robinson, GHSA Executive Officer, Juanita Yancey, Searcy Daniels, Sheltering Arms Head Start Director and Program staff.
To learn more about Sheltering Arms, click on the text link below.
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In August, GHSA Executive Officer, Juanita Yancey takes a photo with life size images of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Lyndon B. Johnson during the 59th Annual NCAP Convention in Atlanta, GA. |
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The 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington |
Six decades ago, an estimated 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in the nation's capital. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech that day, on August 28, 1963, has since emerged as a paramount symbol of the push for racial and social equality. Source: NPR| August 26, 202310:55 PM ET| By Emily Olson
In January 1964, President Lyndon B. Jones declared "a war on poverty" in his State of the Union Address.
The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 created the Community Action Network of national and locally-focused organizations that connect millions of children and families to greater opportunity.
In 1965, Head Start begun as an eight-week demonstration project to help break the cycle of poverty in America.
Community Action comes out of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty and from the advocacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was only fitting then, that pioneers of this movement came to Atlanta, GA- the birth place of Dr. King, for the 59th annual Convention of the National Community Action Partnership (NCAP) from August 23-25, 2023. Mobile workshops session were held during the event, where participants toured The King Center, MLK Home Tour & The National Center for Civil Rights. NCAP will convene in Seattle, Washington for it's 60th Annual Convention August 28-30, 2024. To learn more about NCAP, click below.
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Partner Spotlight: Early Reading with BookSmart Gives Children a Head Start
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Worldreader is an international nonprofit organization working with partners to get children reading at least 25 books a year. Since 2010, Worldreader has reached millions of readers in more than 100 countries. The organization achieves impact with their BookSmart digital reading solution which improves comprehension, digital literacy and emotional literacy skills for children ages 3-12 years old.
GHSA has teamed up with Worldreader through Worldreader's "Let 's Get Children Reading" program to use BookSmart to offer a library of books for Head Start and Early Head Start families to enjoy anytime, anywhere! Each book comes with 3 easy to complete activities to extend learning that can be done in less than 10 minutes. It’s as easy as 1-2-3! To learn more about this amazing partnership click here: Let's Get Georgia's Children Reading
GHSA is also partnering with SWA Connect, LLC to provide Free Tablets/Internet to participating Book Smart families. The tablets and in the internet are theirs to keep. To learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program click here: Free Tablet\Internethttps://www.swaconnect.com/
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Tell Congress: No Cuts to Head Start! |
A $750 MILLION budget cut to #HeadStart means:
❗Depriving children of education, early intervention, health screenings, dental care
❗staff cuts
❗empty classrooms
❗fewer children and their families being served, and
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Georgia Head Start program braces for possible government shutdown? |
September 30, 2023 at 5:04 am EDT
Georgia Head Start Association Executive Officer, Juanita Yancey sits down with Larry Spruill of WSB TV Atlanta and discusses how a shutdown of the US government may impact Georgia Head Start Programs. To watch clips from the interview, click on the link "Shut Down" below.
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It's Farm to School Month and Pepper Palooza!
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The Georgia Head Start Association is happy to be an official proud partner with Georgia Organics for the Pepper Palooza campaign celebrating Farm to School Month during October 2023.
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During Pepper Palooza, various pepper recipes have been suggested for young learners as part of the Pepper Palooza cafeteria contest! |
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2023 Georgia Head Start Association Fall Leadership Conference
November 7-9, 2023
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Atlanta
275 Baker Street
Atlanta, GA 30313
Theme: "Head Start is Heart Work"
To learn more click below:
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815 Park North Blvd.
Clarkston, GA 30021
(404)458.6224
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GHSA President
Donnis Pace, MPA
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GHSA Executive Officer
Juanita Yancey, MBA
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