Nevada Head Start Collaboration Office
Through statewide partnerships, the Nevada Head Start State Collaboration and Early Childhood Systems Office enhances relationships, builds systems, and promotes comprehensive quality services to meet the needs of young children and their families. The office exists through grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start and the Health Resources Services Administration, Maternal Child Health Bureau.
The Nevada Head Start State Collaboration and Early Childhood Systems Office is currently leading efforts to build a comprehensive system of early childhood services across the state, so all children can enter school ready to learn.
Intended Outcomes for All Children in Nevada include the following as agreed on during planning meetings over a two year span:
-
All children are supported and ready to make a successful transition to school.
-
All children have access to early childhood services that are accredited or meet national standards
-
Parents know child development
-
Parents know what to expect from programs and advocate for their children or self
-
Families partner in decision making at all levels and are satisfied with the services they receive
-
Families with young children are supported in their communities (employment, education, etc)
-
All children have access to medical home and health insurance
-
Social, emotional, mental health and developmental needs of young children & their families are supported by community-based services
-
Early childhood service provider workforce stabilizes
-
Early childhood workforce receives professional development to ensure quality services for all children (e.g. mental health, disabilities, etc.)
-
More families report that community-based services are organized so they can use them easily
The Head Start State Collaboration Office has a Partnership Committee that is comprised of approximately 30 individuals representing Head Start grantees, State Divisions/Departments, and local community partners. Membership is derived from the eight initiative areas and reflects the perspective of the Head Start grantees, and key state and community agencies that serve low-income children and families throughout Nevada. The Partnership Committee meets quarterly and participates in an annual strategic planning process.
Specifically, the Collaboration Office partnerships are intended to:
- Assist in building early childhood systems in order to improve access to comprehensive services and support for all low-income children
- Encourage widespread collaboration between Head Start and other appropriate programs, services and initiatives
- Facilitate the involvement of Head Start in the formation of State policies, plans, processes and decisions affecting the Head Start target population and other low-income families
The HS SCO grant is not intended, and in fact is prohibited, from:
- Providing direct-services to Head Start families
- Providing Training & Technical Assistance to Head Start program staff
- Supplanting the work of the Regional Office
HS SCO Activities - Specifics
Much of the work the SCO does is on-going, though some of the work requires specific system development between program grantees and potential partners.
Examples of on-going work include:
- Participation on various committees and boards, such as the State Council of Libraries and Literacy, the State Homeless Policy Academy, the Nevada Registry Advisory Committee, the Nevada Association for the Education of Young Children State Board, etc.
- Quarterly/bi-annual site visits to Head Start grantees throughout the state.
- Facilitate cross-training sessions between Head Start program staff and State Welfare staff in order to enhance referrals to Head Start and enable Welfare staff to gain a comprehensive understanding of Head Start services.
- Participate on the State's Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) development process.
- Work with the State Department of Education in order to further collaboration between Head Start programs and state-funded pre-kindergarten programs.
Examples of specific projects include:
- Conduct an oral health survey, using information collected to design a plan for the provision of dental services to Head Start children throughout the state.
- Develop a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Nevada Head Start Association and the Early Intervention Services Bureau for the provision of services to children with disabilities.
- Design and implement an annual self-evaluation process for the HS SCO.
- Compile data from the Family Matrix Evaluation models to evaluate family literacy needs on an agency-by-agency basis.
- Develop an MOU with the Welfare/Child Care Assistance Division for the provision of childcare funding to HS programs for full day, full year care.
- Work with the state institutions of higher education to increase the number of AA and BA degrees that Head Start staff earn, including higher education specific to working with English Language Learners.
Contact Information
Margot Chappel - Program Director
Carson City, Nevada 89706
Email: mchappel@dhhs.nv.gov
Phone: 775-684-4195
Fax: 775-684-4010
The website address is: http://www.dhhs.nv.gov/HeadStart.htm