Over the past few weeks I have been exploring the web site of the National Head Start Association. One of the outside links is to their regional and state affiliates. I decided to look at the California Head Start Association. On the first page of their web site there are four areas with different information, Learn, Attend, Act and Join. Under "Learn" I explored the CHSA Projects and there are several grant opportunities for Head Start schools. One of these projects was for a school garden and the sponsor was the Western Growers Foundation. The goals of this project is to generate
fun and learning about fresh vegetables, healthy eating and active living through gardening (California Head Start Association, 2011)
Under the "Attend" link their is information on where to locate a Head Start in a specific area of California and job opportunities. Under the "Act" link there is information on Head Start policy issues, how to support by donating to the $2 Per Child Campaign, and information on Advocacy resources. Under the "Join" link people are able to receive a CHSA newsletter, discounts to their conferences, information on events and information and discounts form the corporate sponsors.
I do not get an newsletter, but there are links to past newsletters and press releases. The most current press release talks about how the U.S. House of Representatives proposes to cut funds to Head Start. Proposed funding cuts were a surprise to program leaders and raise questions about long term impacts (CHSA, 2011). The proposed cuts would reduce Head Start funding by over 20%. If these cuts are enacted, in California 27,000 children and their families will be dropped from Head Start’s education, health, and support service programs. An estimated 6,000 California staff members will lose their jobs. This comes in the midst of California’s state budget woes, where thousands of working families may soon also be losing child care services, creating a domino effect of endangering their own ability to work (CHSA, 2011). I had heard about this from a Head Start Director but I did not realize the impact until I saw the actual numbers. This is an inequity for the children and families that need this service not only to prepare the children for school but so parents can work.
The CHSA web site has a lot of information and resources for early childhood professionals who work for Head Start and for Families who participate in Head Start or are interested in the program. Even if you do not work for Head Start you can gain valuable information about issues and policies in early childhood.
Resource
California Head Start Association
Julie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad state of affairs when we talk and talk about helping children and then cut the money that supports the very programs we are fighting to establish/maintain! I recently found out that Arizona no longer provides state-funded preschool so all our families have to depend on is Head Start and if they start cutting that - who knows where they will turn!
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteThe school garden project is something similar to my school. We have a few raised beds in our parking lot, believe it or not and the kids are growing a few vegetables. Twice a year, we have a tasting event where they can taste the veggies they've been growing. We've had kale, basil, celery, even strawberries. I'm excited to learn that there is a Head Start program that supports this, as well because it's important to introduce these concepts to children as young as possible. Preschool age is an even better time to start than elementary and what better way to teach them than hands on learning?