OMB Control No: 0970-0465
Expiration date: 11/30/2018
Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
About this report:
This annual report will support the work completed by your Head Start Collaboration Office
(HSCO). The annual report will allow the Office of Head Start (OHS) to capture and promote
your collaboration office accomplishments that are both quantitative and qualitative. The
categories were determined by information that was submitted in past reports along with
current priorities and therefore is intended to build on past work as we move forward. While
we structure a number of questions to focus on current priorities, we also allow for work
outside of the priorities to be reported at the end of each section.
Instructions:
Please only report on work completed during the 2015 calendar year. When necessary, you
may include some background information prior to 2015 to understand the work being
reported. If no work has been completed in an area during 2015, there is no need to enter
any information.
THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4 hours per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed,
and reviewing the collection of information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
A. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION – Please fill out the following demographic
information
* indicates a required question
* indicates a question that will be used to populate your collaboration profile webpage
on Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC)
Lilli Copp
1. *Name _______________________
Director
2. *Title _________________________
3. **Select the state of the Head Start Collaboration Office (HSCO)
4.
**What region is the collaboration office located in?
Florida
4
2006
5. When did you begin in this position? April
________________________
6. **Select the Department that best represents the location of the HSCO
Department of Education
Department of Human or Social Services
Workforce Department
Governor’s Office
Combined Education and Human Services Department
Florida Institute of Education University of North Florida
■
Other _______________________________________
7. **Where is the HSCO actually housed (e.g. specify the division within the department)
Florida Institute of Education
________________________________________
8. **Is this position appointed by the Governor or their Designee
Yes
■ No
9. *Please provide the Vision and Mission of the department in the State where the HSCO is
located. You may include the Purpose/Mission of the HSCO if applicable.
The Florida Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSCO) is a federally funded office with the specific purpose of supporting and improving collaboration between Head Start
and other providers of educational, medical, and social services in Florida. The office coordinates federal, state, and local policy to help ensure a unified early care and
education system. Sponsored by the Florida Institute of Education at the University of North Florida, supported by the Florida's Office of Early Learning (OEL) and in partnership
with the Florida Head Start Association, the HSCO works to coordinate activities with key state agencies and other early childhood associations and advocacy groups.
10. How many staff positions are there in the HSCO?
1
Director
___
Full-time employees (FTE)
Coordinator
___ FTE
Assistant/Admin ___ FTE
Consultant (Inkind) (please indicate position)
.5 FTE _____________
Other
___
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
11. *Does your state or region have an identified State Advisory Council? If so, provide the name of
the council and the involvement of the HSCO.
Yes _______________________________
■
No
Regional Advisory Council
12. *List up to ten major partnerships/collaborations that are in place between the HSCO and
other entities
Office of Early Learning (Child Care and VPK)
_______________________________
Department of Health Early Steps (Part C, IDEA)
_______________________________
Expanding Opportunities for Inclusion
_______________________________
Oral Health Florida
_______________________________
Department of Children and Families LAUNCH Grant
_______________________________
Florida Community College Early Childhood Educators Network
_______________________________
Children's Forum
_______________________________
Regional Education Laboratory (REL) Southeast
_______________________________
Department of Economic Opportunity Community Assistance Council
_______________________________
One Goal Summer Conference Planning Committee
_______________________________
13. *List the major goals for your HSCO
1. Promote, expand and enrich partnerships between Head Start and state and local systems.
2. Explore prospects to integrate data into state early childhood data systems.
3. Advance the creation of comprehensive, accessible, and articulated system of workforce and career
development.
4. Facilitate opportunities for Head Start participation in state and local early childhood quality initiatives.
5. Expand partnerships between Head Start and state and local education entities to create connections and
seamless transitions for children and families.
6. Regional Priorities
- Promote partnerships with federal, state, and local community service entities to increase the scope and
quality of community service activities in Head Start programs.
- Expand opportunities in Head Start programs for the inclusion of children with disabilities.
- Partner with state and local partners to promote and expand access to coordinated and comprehensive
health services that lead to improved health services outcomes for children in Head Start programs.
- Support the coordination and collaboration with organizations offering services for homeless children and
families to reach eligible families.
- Enhance the collaboration and coordination of Head Start programs with welfare and child welfare systems.
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
*Reponses to sections B-G will be used to populate the results on your ECLKC collaboration
office profile webpage and can be used in completing your mid and annual reports.
B. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - Include a description and measurable results where
possible.
1. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in any education for legislative
actions around Professional Development in the following areas:
educational requirements for Early Childhood Education (ECE)
✔ system development
other (please specify)_____________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description and when applicable, measurable
results:
The HSCO worked with an Articulation Committee made up of representatives of the Department of Education, state and community
colleges, Florida’s Office of Early Learning, the Department of Children & Families Child Care Regulation and the Children’s Forum to
improve the articulation of college coursework and early childhood education degrees from two-year institutions to four-year institutions
within the state. Through the efforts of this committee, the Florida legislature allocated additional funding of $1.5 million to provide
T.E.A.C.H. scholarships to candidates seeking bachelor degrees. The committee also facilitated the hiring of an Outreach Coordinator
whose primary responsibility is to consult, support, and facilitate the development of new undergraduate programs that meet local
community needs and advance the education of the workforce.
2. Please indicate the area(s) of higher education where the collaboration office was
involved
development or
infant toddler
preschool
revision of a state
mental health
credential/certificate
early childhood special education
development or
Associate degree in ECE with a focus on infant and toddler
revision of a degree
development
Baccalaureate degree in ECE with a focus on infant and
toddler development
Master degree in ECE with a focus on infant and toddler
development
development or revision
infant toddler
of online coursework or
preschool
degree
✔ infant toddler
enhancement of
coursework
social emotional
brain development
✔
support for articulation
✔
facilitated partnerships
other
please specify_________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO made its annual presentation to the Florida Community College Early Childhood Educators Network on the status of Head
Start programs meeting the Head Start teacher degree requirements. The HSCO provided Program Information Report professional
development data from Head Start and EHS programs and program contact information to their corresponding state and community
colleges to facilitate partnerships between the colleges and the programs.
Also, to meet the increased need for more highly trained infant and toddler teachers in the new Early Head Start – Child Care
Partnerships, the HSCO made recommendations to the Network to add additional coursework specific to infant social emotional
development.
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
3. Please indicate the area(s) where the collaboration office has been involved in the
development or implementation of Early Learning Guidelines/Standards
(ELG/ELS)
✔
alignment with the Head Start Child Development
and Early Learning Framework (HSCDELF)
dual language in developing ELG/ELS
initial development or revisions to
infant toddler
preschool
✔ birth to 5 continuum
other
please specify
________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
Florida has birth to five early learning guidelines/standards that are aligned
with the former Head Start Child Outcomes Framework. The HSCO has begun
initial discussions with the Office of Early Learning to begin alignment of the
HSCDELF with the state ELG/ELS.
4. Please indicate the area(s) where the collaboration office has been a part of development
or revision of core knowledge and competencies for practitioners/professionals
infant toddler
✔ birth to five continuum
drafting documents
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
Florida developed core competencies several years ago and the HSCO participated in
that process. Florida’s Office of Early Learning recently reinstated their professional
development committee of which the HSCO is a member. The professional
development committee is considering revising their core competencies.
5. Please indicate the area(s) where the collaboration office has been involved in facilitating
conference or training activities
✔ statewide
regional
in partnership with National Head Start Association (NHSA)
✔ in partnership with other organization (please specify)
Florida Head Start Association
___________________________________
One Goal Summer Conference
✔ other (please specify)___________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO is a regular member of the annual One Goal Summer Conference Planning Committee. This committee is comprised of multiple agencies and organizations which
meet throughout the year to plan the annual early childhood training conference. The HSCO sponsored a day of training for the Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership
grantees at the Florida Head Start Association (FHSA) conference. The HSCO also convened a half-day workshop for this group at the One Goal Summer Conference in July.
The HSCO is an integral partner of the FHSA conference planning committee and facilitated the development of several workshops and suggested presenters.
The HSCO has also worked with the Office of Early Learning to coordinate Head Start/EHS program staff participation in CLASS MMCI training and CLASS Reliability training.
These partnerships have created opportunities for Head Start/EHS CLASS reliable staff and Early Learning Coalition staff to provide inner rater reliable CLASS observations.
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
6. Please indicate the area(s) where the collaboration office has been involved in the
development or enhancement of Professional Development Registry activities
✔ statewide system
Early Childhood professional tracking
✔ trainer requirements and tracking
meeting of Head Start professional development requirements
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description or your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
After a three year hiatus, Florida’s Office of Early Learning recently revived their professional development committee. The HSCO
Director has been a member of the committee since its inception and has served on several subcommittees such as the Registry
Committee, Quality Assurance and Professional Pathways. On the Professional Pathways sub-committee, the HSCO Director worked
to assure the professional development pathway includes a mixture of college coursework to meet the needs of degree seeking
professionals, and other training along a continuum to address informal training needs of the beginner teacher. Plans for the Registry
include International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) certified training at a minimum. Qualifications for
trainers will include a mixture of education and hours of training experience appropriate for the type of training.
7. If there are any other professional development activities the collaboration office
has been involved in that have not been reported elsewhere in this section, please
provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable, measurable results:
N/A
C. SCHOOL READINESS and PRE-K - Include a description and some measurable results
where possible.
1. Please indicate the area(s) where the collaboration office has been involved in the promotion
of school readiness efforts
importance of relationships and trust
continuity of care
✔ transition planning
pre-literacy and literacy efforts
early math and science and/or STEM efforts
Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA)
✔ summits or conferences
Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs)
public engagement and marketing tool
Child Care Resource & Referral, Child Care Development Fund, One Goal Summer Conference
✔ other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO contracted with the Children’s Forum to perform a study to examine the experiences, barriers, and facilitators as well as technical assistance needs relating to programs’ transition policies and activities for
transitioning children from Early Head Start to Head Start and from Head Start to Kindergarten. Based on the information collected, a major study outcome of Phase I will be to propose a calendar of activities, a toolkit of useful
materials on best practices, and a plan for providing supports and technical assistance designed to promote best practices during such transitions.
The HSCO was invited to present information on the Head Start eligibility process to the thirty early learning coalition child care resource and referral agencies. This resulted in improved understanding of Head Start eligibility
requirement and stimulated interest exploring a unified eligibility process between Head Start and child care subsidy.
The HSCO participated on the Child Care Development Fund refunding application multi-agency review committee, representing Head Start and making recommendations for coordination with Head Start programs included in
the application.
The HSCO is a regular member of the annual One Goal Summer Conference Planning Committee. This committee is comprised of multiple agencies and organizations which meet throughout the year to plan the annual early
childhood training conference. This conference reaches nearly 1,000 early childhood practitioners and administrators.
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
2. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in or supported involvement with
pre-K
✔ partnerships
funding (please be as specific as possible in the narrative)
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO has a partnership with the Office of Early Learning Voluntary Prekindergarten program (VPK). The state-funded VPK
program uses collective results of individual child assessments to predict and rate the quality of early childhood VPK providers.
This year, the VPK program changed the assessment they were using which caused concern from Head Start programs that were
using other assessment instruments. Due to these concerns the HSCO held a series of conference calls between HS grantees,
VPK staff and the child assessment developer. The outcome of the calls resulted in the creation of a document entitled, “Managing
Multiple Licenses and User Accounts with GOLD”, which is a user guide for Head Start grantees.
3. If there are any other school readiness or pre-K activities the collaboration office has
been involved in that are not reported in this section, please provide a narrative description
of your work and if applicable, measurable results:
The HSCO presents information about Head Start programs and initiatives to the quarterly
meetings of the Early Learning Coalitions (ELC) and the Early Learning Advisory Council. These
regular meetings have provided an opportunity for improved understanding of the requirements
of Head Start and increase the communication between Head Start programs and the ELCs.
D. DATA and STATE FUNDING RELATED WORK - Include a description and some
measurable results where possible.
1. Please indicate if the collaboration office has worked on setting up unique identifiers that
include Head Start children in your state or region
✔ Yes
No
If yes selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO and Eckerd Youth Alternatives joined forces to pilot an early childhood data collection system in Hillsborough County, Florida. The project includes the Hillsborough County School District
which assigns unique child identifiers to children enrolled in their schools, children participating in the school district delegate Head Start program, and some other children participating in Eckerd
programs, but not enrolled in the school district. The Pilot project will explore the possibilities of expanding the child identifier process to include all county Head Start children and children participating
in other school readiness programs. Under another grant, Eckerd has a data sharing agreement with the Hillsborough County School District to exchange information regarding performance and
graduation rates of children in the Eckerd foster care program. The relationship that Eckerd has with the school system provides a perfect opportunity to develop data sharing agreements and plans
which can connect to the Early Childhood Integrated Data System (ECIDS) at the Florida Department of Education. Eckerd is also a new Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grantee, which
solidifies their connection for data sharing between Early Head Start, Head Start, and the local school system.
The outcomes of this project will be increased fiscal accountability, management of child data across programs, the elimination of fraud, shared results with the community and increased
accountability and coordination of early childhood programs.
2. Please indicate if the collaboration office has developed or updated any profiles regarding
data for your state or for certain populations
✔ Fact Sheets or Profiles – please include the geographic level in the description (such
as county/city etc)
economic impact studies
mapping studies
Wage Study, Teacher Turnover Study
✔ other (please specify)__________________________________________________
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO develops annual fact sheets from Program Information Report data in the following content areas: Professional Development, Disabilities Services, Homelessness, and Oral Health. These
fact sheets are developed at the program level and often cite counties defined by the data. Results of the annual Needs Assessment of Head Start programs is complied, analyzed and shared with
community partners.
The HSCO conducted the first statewide Wage Study of Head Start programs. Information from the report was available to all Head Start programs for compliance with the Head Start Performance
Standards and as a comparison for demonstrating salary and wage decisions.
In cooperation with the Florida Head Start Association, another study was performed to examine teacher turnover rates in Head Start programs as well as the reasons for turnover and factors affecting
turnover rates (e.g., program policies, pay rates, and work climate) by surveying Florida Head Start programs. Results will be shared with all Head Start programs as well as other partners.
3. Please indicate if the collaboration office has contributed to the development of a state data
system or other data system in your region.
been a part of task force or coalitions for planning and developing the state’s or
region’s data system including early childhood
developed or been a part of an MOU to share data
✔ deliberate integration of Head Start data into the state data system
work on common definitions within the state
other (please specify)_________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
Florida’s Office of Early Learning (OEL) is modernizing their data collection and child care
subsidy payment system. The HSCO has been in discussions with OEL to assure that Head
Start data will be integrated into their system when OEL is ready to expand their system to
include other child care partners. Anticipated completion date of the initial system is March 2016.
4. If there are any other data or state/region funding related activities the
collaboration office has been involved in that are not reported in this section, please
provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable, measurable results:
At one of the Florida Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers (FICCIT) meetings, the HSCO
mentioned how the State of Utah was using their Bureau of Vital Statistics data to create a unique child identifier
system that can be used across multiple agencies. Through the information shared at this meeting, the Newborn
Screening Division of the Florida Department of Health began discussions with Florida's Bureau of Vital Statistics
to discuss the possibility of using their unique child identifier system to replicate the work done in Utah.
E. PARENT/FAMILY AND DIVERSITY RELATED - Include a description and some
measurable results where possible.
1. Please indicate if the collaboration office has done deliberate work to incorporate the Parent
Family Community Engagement Framework into other systems within the state or
region
✔ Yes
No
If yes selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
Two years ago, the HSCO convened a workgroup comprised of Family Services staff from eight different types of grantees. The goal of the Head Start Parent, Family, and
Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework Family Outcomes Workgroup (workgroup) was to use the PFCE Framework to begin to quantify family outcomes. While working on
our project, the workgroup learned that Child Plus, the data collection software used by many Head Start programs, had created a software program which would measure family
outcomes. The Child Plus system needed a scoring rubric to accompany their software. The workgroup developed scoring criteria using a 3-pt. Likert Scale which Child Plus
agreed to include into their software. After the initial implementation year, the workgroup realized that a 3-pt. Likert Scale was insufficient in capturing change from one
assessment period to the next, so the workgroup met to revise their PFCE Scoring Criteria. The workgroup revised the Likert Scale from a 3-pt. to a 5 pt. scale, which provides
more options for measuring family progress on the PFCE Framework Indicators. Child Plus agreed to include the new scale into their software. Feedback from Child Plus
indicates Florida's scale is the most popular amongst Child Plus users. The workgroup continues to meet to develop plans for collecting and analyzing data from other Florida
Head Start programs to create a statewide report of family outcomes.
2. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been engaged in work around home visiting
such as:
✔ MIECHV and Early Head Start work
coordination and/or systems work within your state or region
development or support of pilots around home visiting
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO serves on a workgroup organized by the MIECHV agency and participates in
weekly conference calls to assure Early Head Start participation as a recognized
evidenced-based home visiting program. Florida has two Early Head Start grantees that
are exclusively home visiting models, one of which is participating in the MIECHV project.
3. Please indicate what work the collaboration office has been engaged in that supports dual
language learners and/or cultural responsiveness
✔ MOUs or work with the Office of Refugee Resettlement
development of any early English language development standards
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO was invited to present information on Head Start at the
Refugee Services Consultation. Over thirty people attended the session.
4. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in the development of MOUs
with child welfare
Yes
✔ No
If yes selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
5. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in developing materials or
conferences/meetings to support parent/family/community engagement
✔ conferences or meetings
materials
other (please specify)_____________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable
measurable results:
The HSCO developed scoring criteria to measure family outcomes, which is included in Child Plus software. The HSCO also organized a
special session at the Florida Head Start Association Conference to share the work of the PFCE Framework Family Outcomes workgroup.
This session stimulated interest from other Head Start programs to use the Florida scoring criteria and for others to join our workgroup.
The HSCO was invited to set up an informational display booth at the Department of Children and Families Dependency Summit. This
provided an opportunity to provide information on Head Start programs and share other information on child welfare, such as pamphlets and
brochures on child development, community services and strengthening families.
6. Please indicate if the collaboration office has worked on issues relating to the specific topic
areas below:
fatherhood
parent advisory groups
parent data
financial literacy
✔ homelessness
domestic violence
incarcerated parents
Strengthening Families work
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO has been an active member of the Department of Education Homeless Education Advisory Council,
meeting to assist in developing their biennial strategic plan. The HSCO has also shared information with the
directors of the thirty early learning coalitions, on the categorical eligibility of homeless families in Head Start.
This has resulted in increases in referrals from the early learning coalitions to Head Start programs.
7. If there are any other parent/family or diversity related activities the collaboration
office has been involved in that are not reported in this section, please provide a
narrative description of your work and if applicable, measurable results:
N/A
F. Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) - Include a description and some
measurable results where possible.
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
1. Please indicate any work the collaboration office has been intentionally involved in regarding
Head Start in QRIS
piloting efforts
alignment issues
active participation in development of QRIS
✔ reducing barriers to Head Start involvement to increase number of grantees who are
a part of QRIS
provided support in the adoption of ”Caring for Our Children Basics”, proposed
Health and Safety Model Standards. (once they become available)
No statewide QRIS in place.
✔ other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
Florida does not have a statewide QRIS, however, there are quality initiatives in about a dozen communities across the state where local funding is
available to child care programs that meet quality criteria. The HSCO has provided information, created communications links and encouraged Head Start
programs to participate in these local quality initiatives.
The Office of Early Learning (OEL) has developed a performance funding pilot which recognizes child care providers with highly trained staff and which
meet certain criteria. This pilot was not available to Head Start providers at this time, however, the HSCO is in discussions with OEL to involve Head Start
in future quality measures.
2. If there are any QRIS activities that the collaboration office has been involved in that are
not reported in this section, please provide a narrative description of your work and if
applicable, measurable results:
N/A
G. EARLY EDUCATION SYSTEM OUTSIDE OF QRIS - Include a description and some
measurable results where possible.
1. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in or supported efforts to
expand access to quality infant and toddler spaces within your state or region
within Early Head Start
✔ within Early Head Start – Child Care Partnerships
within early care and education
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO sponsored a pre-conference session at the Florida Head Start Association annual conference for the
eight Florida Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership grantees. Over 40 people attended the session to learn more
about how to implement their partnerships. The training featured representatives from Western Kentucky University
and the Office of Early Learning. The HSCO has worked collaboratively with the Office of Early Learning to make
changes in policies which allow annual recertification for Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership families instead
of recertification every six months.
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
2. Please indicate if the collaboration office has regular meetings or communications with
other early care and education professional
✔ child care
✔ state data system staff
✔ pre-K
QRIS
✔ higher education
K-12
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work, the frequency of
these meetings and if applicable, measurable results:
The HSCO is housed with the Office of Early Learning (OEL) and has regular opportunities to
meet with OEL staff in the areas of child care and pre-K. OEL has quarterly meetings with early
learning coalitions and invites the HSCO to present information at those meetings. The Voluntary
Prekindergarten (VPK) program has monthly calls with the VPK providers and early learning
coalitions which provide an opportunity for the HSCO to share information or ask questions.
3. Please indicate if the collaboration office has worked on a cross walk between state child
care licensing and Head Start Program Performance Standards
in discussion
started the process
completed (please e-mail a copy to [email protected] or provide a link to
the crosswalk in the description)
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO has not worked on a crosswalk between state child care
licensing and Head Start Program Performance Standards, however, it is
in discussion.
4. Please indicate if the collaboration office has worked on Family Child Care issues in your
state or region
licensing issues for partnering with Head Start/Early Head Start
piloting efforts
increasing quality in general for family child care
Included in Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership discussion.
✔ other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO meets quarterly with the Family Child Care Home Association executive director to
stimulate partnerships with family child care home providers. A representative from a Head
Start Family Child Care Home provider was invited to present information at the Early Head
Start-Child Care Partnership workshop to provide information and respond to questions.
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
5. Please indicate if the collaboration office has worked on general early care and education
systems work in your state or region around the following areas
State Advisory Council (SAC)/Interagency work
Planning and developing frameworks
MOU/Interagency agreements
✔ General alignment across systems
state funding
✔ materials/public awareness
other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO is an annual sponsor of Children's Week at the Capital where early childhood agencies, organizations and advocates participate in activities which highlight issues concerning early childhood education
and care and child welfare. The HSCO collaborates with the Florida Head Start Association to provide public awareness materials about Florida Head Start programs.
The HSCO is a member of the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) plan review committee to assure Head Start is included in the state plan in the areas of professional development, quality improvement and
rating systems and unified eligibility systems.
The HSCO regularly participates on conference calls with Child Care Resource and Referral staff to provide contact information for Head Start programs and to explore opportunities to create a unified eligibility
and enrollment system with child care partners.
The HSCO has collaborated with the Office of Early Learning to more closely align state policies with Head Start standards to assist Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership grantees in the implementation of
their grants. This included changing to an annual recertification for child care subsidy eligibility and allowing participation on Early Head Start parent activities to substitute for parent fees.
6. If there are any other early childhood system outside of QRIS related activities the
collaboration office has been in involved in and are not reported in this section, please
provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable, measurable results:
N/A
H. HEALTH RELATED - Include a description and some measurable results where
possible.
1. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in activities around support of a
medical or dental home
medical
✔ dental
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if
applicable, measurable results:
The HSCO has served as a member of the Oral Health Florida Leadership Council for three years. Through membership on this council, the HSCO has
formed partnerships with other members of the council such as the Florida Dental Hygiene Association, the Florida Department of Health Dental Unit, the
College of Dentistry at the University of Florida, the Association of Federally Qualified Health Centers, the Agency for Health Care Administration
(Medicaid), among others.
In addition to providing Program Information Report data on Florida Head Start oral health indicators the HSCO provides input on Florida’s Oral Health
Roadmap. The council was also instrumental in switching Florida’s Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program's
recommended first oral health screening from three years of age to one year of age. This change should impact the preventive care rates and the need for
treatment rates.
2. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in any work around the
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
✔ yes
no
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
If yes selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if
applicable, measurable results:
Staywell, one of the Medicaid managed care providers, part of the Affordable
Health Care Act, became a partner and supporter of the Florida Head Start
Association and provided information at meetings and conferences.
3. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in intentional activity to support
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) screenings
lead toxicity screening
✔ hearing screening
vision screening
✔ dental screening
other (please specify)___________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
In partnership with the Early Childhood Hearing Outreach (ECHO) project, the HSCO organized Train-the-Trainer Training for 10 people from
seven grantees and delegates to learn to train others to use an Otoacoustic Emissions device to detect hearing loss in young children.
The HSCO collaborated with the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Dental Hygiene Association to perform the first Basic
Screening Survey on a randomized sample of Head Start and Early Head Start children across the state. The survey identified treated and
untreated decay. The results of the survey were shared at the Oral Health Florida Conference in August. The survey results will also inform
the Florida Department of Health on the need for oral health care and will influence policy decisions.
4. please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in intentional activities around
oral health initiatives
✔ coordination for increased access
✔ conference coordination
✔ partnerships
funding
Basic Screening Survey
✔ other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description or your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
As stated previously in this section, the HSCO served on the Oral Health Florida Leadership Council which, through
the Oral Health Roadmap, is developing strategies to increase access to oral health care. One of the strategies is to
support legislation which would allow dental hygienists to expand the delivery of oral health services without
supervision of a dentist, and also allow hygienists to bill Medicaid for those services. This year HSCO sponsored and
assisted in the coordination of the biennial Florida Oral Health Conference. The HSCO also facilitated the Basic
Screening Survey (BSS) with partners, Florida Department of Health and the Florida Dental Hygiene Association.
5. Please indicate if the collaboration office has been involved in support or development of
Health Networks in your state or region
✔ Yes
No
If yes selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
Facilitated a Florida Head Start Health Manager’s meeting during the preconference sessions of
the Florida Oral Health Conference. All Head Start Health Managers were invited to attend the
meeting and encouraged to stay for the conference. The HSCO also organized a webinar for the
Health Manager’s Network to share information on health services and review Program
Information Report data.
6. Please indicate what level of involvement the collaboration office had in your state or region
around early childhood and disabilities
development of state or regional MOUs
public awareness campaigns
support materials
Expanding Opportunities for the Inclusion of Young Children, Help Me Grow, FICCIT
✔ other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO participates in the Expanding Opportunities for the Inclusion of Young Children workgroup and serves on the leadership team. Through participation on this multi-agency workgroup, the
HSCO supported the development of a best practices toolkit for inclusion with the Office of Early Learning.
The HSCO also participated on conference calls with the new “Help Me Grow” initiative which utilizes local 211 networks to respond to parents or caregivers seeking information about child
development.
The HSCO is also a gubernatorial appointee to the Florida Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers (FICCIT). FICCIT is the advisory council to the federally-funded Early Steps
program (Part C, IDEA) administered by the Florida Department of Health. FICCIT meets quarterly and the HSCO provides disabilities services data to the council from Early Head Start Program
Information Report data and provides feedback to Early Steps on improvements to coordinated services. All of these efforts have contributed to Head Start and Early Head Start programs exceeding
the ten percent requirement for disability services for the third year in a row.
7. Please indicate what areas of involvement the collaboration office had around mental
health and social emotional issues in your state or region
specific involvement in infant and toddlers
materials development
coordination of conferences
support for the development of coaching and mentoring groups
✔ interagency coordination
LAUNCH grant
✔ other (please specify)__________________________________________________
If any selected, please provide a narrative description of your work and if applicable,
measurable results:
The HSCO has been participating in the multi-agency state team for the LAUNCH grant, a multi-million
dollar project focusing on child abuse prevention and offers substance abuse prevention and treatment
to under-served populations in the Lealman area of Pinellas County, Florida. The state team meets to
develop strategies and inform state policies on systems of care to improve the care coordination at the
local level. The HSCO facilitated the local Head Start grantee's participation in the project.
8. If there are any other health related activities that the collaboration office has been
involved in that are not reported in this section, please provide a narrative description of
your work and if applicable, measurable results:
N/A
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Head Start Collaboration Office 2015 Annual Report
OTHER REGIONAL PRIORITIES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE SECTIONS Include a description and some measurable results where possible.
1. List and describe up to three other collaboration office regional priorities not reported
in any of the previous sections (if there are no regional priorities identified, this may be left
blank)
Community Assistance Advisory Council (Weatherization and LIHEAP)
The HSCO has served as a member of the Community Assistance Advisory Council for several years. This Council advises the State of Florida Department of Economic
Opportunity on their federal block grant weatherization and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) programs. This has resulted in creating improved
communication between the HSCO and the state agency which allocates federal funding to communities to improve using conditions for low-income families, such as in Head
Start.
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