Dear Head Start colleagues, On behalf of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), I am pleased to announce two key leaders for the Office of Head Start (OHS): Commander Tala Q. Hooban as deputy director and Shawna Pinckney as our first associate deputy director. They join the capable OHS leadership team and staff — along with grant recipients, stakeholders, allies, and partners like you — to ensure a strong future for the Head Start program. Tala Hooban is a commander in the U.S.…

Michigan remains in the bottom half of states for child well-being, according to the 2022 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how children and families are faring. This year’s Data Book emphasizes that children in Michigan and across the country are in the midst of a mental health crisis, struggling with anxiety and depression at unprecedented levels. For the first time, this annual resource focuses on youth…

Governor Proclaims Breastfeeding Month Citing the need to encourage a strong foundation for life in all infants by supporting breastfeeding parents for the first year of their child’s life and beyond, Governor Whitmer has issued a proclamation declaring August 2022 as Breastfeeding Month. “During National Breastfeeding Month we recommit ourselves to supporting infants and new parents and ensure that every Michigander has equitable access to the resources and support they need to give their…

August is National Immunization Awareness Month The annual observance of Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) highlights the efforts of healthcare professionals to protect patients of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases through on-time vaccination. This year, NIAM serves as an important reminder to catch up patients on routine visits and vaccinations that may have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocates and providers can use NIAM as an opportunity to access CDC educational…

Head Start Community Concerned by Lack of Support in COVID-19 Relief Bill July 27, 2020 Programs Need at Least $1.7 Billion in Emergency Funding to Open Safely and Effectively   WASHINGTON, DC – The National Head Start Association (NHSA) today expressed immediate concern that supplemental COVID-19 response funding legislation proposed by Senate majority leadership fails to include support for Head Start. While the proposed legislation includes funding to support schools and child care…

Notre Dame News By Colleen Sharkey New research is the first to show large-scale intergenerational effects of the federal Head Start program that launched in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. The program continues to this day and serves children from low-income families and disadvantaged circumstances. When assessing the children of the first generation of Head Start participants, researchers Chloe Gibbs, assistant professor of economics at the University of Notre…

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) recently recognized 13 Head Start grant recipients as part of NHSA’s Program of Excellence Accreditation.  The accreditation entails a three-month applications process that gives programs an opportunity to showcase all facets of their operation through the 41 Indicators of Excellence framework.     New St. Paul Head Start Agency in Detroit was among the 13 grant recipients nationwide to be recognized.  “NHSA’s Program of Excellence Accreditation is a…

Information for parents and caregivers of children ages 6 months and older.  For the best protection, CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older and boosters for everyone 5 years and older, if eligible. 1. COVID-19 vaccination for children is safe. Before recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children, scientists conducted clinical trials. Then, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for everyone 6 months and older…

Answers to the top questions frequently asked by parents/guardians about COVID-19 and the vaccines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Vaccine availability  Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine? Everyone ages 6 months and older in the United States can get a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccines are free for everyone, regardless of your immigration status. You also don’t need health insurance. Where can I or my child get vaccinated?  COVID-19 vaccines are available from many…

Funding for Head Start Emerges Amid COVID-19 Relief Negotiations September 29, 2020 Latest HEROES Act Draft Includes $1.7 Billion to Continue Services for At-Risk Children and Families     WASHINGTON, DC – The National Head Start Association (NHSA) today welcomed revitalized COVID-19 negotiations in Washington that indicate strengthened congressional support for critical funding for community-based Head Start programs. In the updated HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) made public on Monday, leadership…