Head Start Report
HCCAO Head Start
Annual Report to the Public
2008-2009 Program Year (Nov. 2008 – Oct 2009)
Highland County Community Action operates a publically funded preschool program that serves primarily low-income children. We enroll 3-5 year olds in our Head Start Program who meet eligibility guidelines. We reserve 10% of our enrollment for children with disabilities. In the coming program year, we will be implementing an Early Head Start Program, which will serve pregnant women, infants, and toddlers.
Our Head Start program operates in three separate facilities – Hillsboro, Greenfield, and Belfast. Children attend 3 ½ hour classes 4 days a week, in either the morning or the afternoon.
A) Fiscal Year 2008 Budget
The HCCAO Head Start Program received $1,673,255 from a grant through the Administration of Children and Families for the operation of the program for 2008-2009. Our nonfederal share (in-kind) was $378,758. We received $32,499 for training and professional development.
The budget was broken down into the following components:
- Personnel $757,829
- Fringe $243,225
- Travel $1,500
- Equipment $166,808
- Supplies $34,760
- Contractual $97,737
- Other $155,770
- Indirect Costs $215,626
The HCCAO Head Start Program also received money from the State of Ohio to implement the Early Learning Initiative Program. The total received to fund this program was $58,000.
The budget was broken down as follows:
- Personnel $30,426
- Fringe $11,322
- Supplies $1,840
- Other $5,160
- Indirect Costs $9,252
B) Services Provided
Funded Federal Enrollment – 207
Funded State Enrollment – 10
Total Number of Children Served – 256
Average Monthly Enrollment – 100% from September – May
Eligibility
Income below 100% of poverty – 184
Receipt of Public Assistance – 41
Foster Children – 11
Homeless Children – 0
Over income – 15
C) Audits and Reviews
Our last annual agency financial audit was completed in April 2009 with no findings. Our annual financial audit for this year is scheduled for May 2010.
Our program had its last Federal Review, conducted by the Administration of Children and Families, in December 2007. We were found to be in full compliance with all Head Start Performance Standards, laws, regulations, and policy requirements.
D) Medical and Dental Exams
Children Receiving Medical Exams – 100%
Children Receiving Dental Exams – 100%
E) Parent Involvement Activities
Throughout the 2008-2009 program year, parents in our program had various opportunities to participate through:
- Policy Council and Governing Board
- Monthly Parent Meetings
- Monthly Parent Classroom Activities
- Luncheons
- Family Fun Nights
- Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Take Home Activities
- Workshops and Trainings
F) Kindergarten Preparation
Head Start staff are committed to making the transition from Head Start to Kindergarten as successful as possible. In order to facilitate this transition, teachers use the Creative Curriculum in their classrooms. This curriculum in line with the Ohio Early Learning Content Standards and provides continuity between Head Start and kindergarten. This curriculum provides tools to allow teachers to individualize lessons to each child, insuring that each child is being appropriately challenged, which will in turn, allow each child to learn to his or her fullest potential.
We also maintain open communication and cooperation with parents, early intervention programs, and the local school districts. Children are taken on field trips to local kindergarten classrooms. Additionally, they are shown the video “Kindergarten, Here I Come” and practice kindergarten-like routines in the Head Start classroom.
Parents are encouraged to be fully involved in this transition process. Teachers conduct two home visits a year, where a parent’s educational goals for a child can be made and assessed. Parents are encouraged to attend the kindergarten field trips, and are provided with information pertaining to kindergarten registrations and orientations.