Developing Collaborative
Relationships
Head Start and Child Welfare
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Overall Goal
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Established in 1965 as part of President
Johnson’s War on Poverty
The only early childhood program, then and
now, to employ a comprehensive service
approach to early childhood education.
Original & ongoing overall goal is to increase
the social competence of children from low
income families.
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Comprehensive Approach
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Social competence means child’s everyday
effectiveness in dealing with her present
environment & later responsibilities in school
& life.
Takes into account the interrelatedness of
development - cognitive & intellectual,
physical & mental health, and nutrition.
Addresses the child within the family within
the culture from the community.
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Key Principles
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Comprehensive individualized child
development services, including
curriculum, screening & assessment
Parent involvement & a family centered
approach
Community based partnerships &
services
Strong effective management systems
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Service Delivery Options
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Center based
Home based
Family child care homes
All not available in every area
All centers and homes must be licensed
Program options chosen based on community
& family needs
Services may be for preschool, pregnant
women & children birth to ages 3 or 5; may
be part or full day/year
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Children’s Services
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Safe, healthy environment
Evidence based curriculum & best practices
Child screening & ongoing developmental
assessment; child outcomes monitored
Quality schedules & classroom management
Activities to meet individual goals
Transitions planned - to public school & other
settings
Child’s progress shared with parents during
home visits & parent conferences
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Health Services
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Assist parents in identifying medical & dental
homes
Assessment of child’s health status & dental
exam completed
Early identification of health/dental needs;
referrals & follow up care done
Health education for parents & children
Healthy routines & nutrition established &
modeled in classrooms
Families assisted in accessing insurance
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Services to Children with
Special Needs/Disabilities
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At least 10% of HS enrollment opportunities
made available to children with disabilities
Inclusive services
Most children identified through HS screening
& assessment process
Referrals made to & collaboration with both
EC special ed & early intervention for services
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Family Partnerships
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Parent involvement in all aspects of program
Parents develop Family Partnership
Agreements (FPAs) to set goals
Parents linked with community services &
resources
Emergency assistance & crisis intervention
Family literacy activities
Father involvement activities
Parent education; volunteers encouraged!
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Community Partnerships
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HS partners with community agencies
to implement services
Change agent in communities; advocate
for parents; teach advocacy
Community involved in HS program via
Policy Council, Health Services Advisory
Committee & others
Community volunteers encouraged
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Program Administration
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Shared governance/
decision making boards, parents & staff
Annual program self
assessment & ongoing
monitoring mandated
Program management
= support for quality
services
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What DCFS Can Expect from
Head Start
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Information, including about program, staff, roles
Alerts about changes in classroom behavior or
possible illnesses
Invite to participate program activities
Share children’s progress & outcomes
Timely incident reporting
Input to Caseworker for service planning
Information on discipline policy/classroom
management, child pick up policies, etc.
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Specific HS Services
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Community resource directories –
comprehensive & updated annually.
Parent Handbooks – spell out policies.
Dental & health education for parents.
Opportunities to observe families in HS home
based group socializations & in classrooms.
Up to date information on health status –
dental, physical, immunization, vision, hearing, lead,
blood work, & developmental.
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Specific HS Services
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FPAs coordinated with other pre-existing
family plans
HS participates in conferences with LEA & EI
to assist in coordination of services for
children with special needs/disabilities
Adult ed offered to parents. Can include
GED, ESL, basic adult ed, etc.
Mental health consultation & training for staff
& parents; child observations.
Nutritious meals & snacks; nutrition
assessment of each child
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What HS Will Expect of
Caseworkers
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A commitment to collaboration, including:
 Events/activities in the classroom
 DCFS Service Planning
 Behavioral concerns
 Regular contacts/visits with the HS center
 Emergencies
 When placement changes are being
considered
 Following up screening recommendations –
referrals not made until discussion with HS
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What HS Will Expect of
Caregivers (Foster Parents)
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Share & listen to information with teachers
each day at drop off & pick up
Participation in the program: attend
meetings, volunteer if possible, join Policy
Committee/Council
Participate in home visits, parent-teacher
conferences, & in developing the Family
Partnership Agreement
Information on child – allergies, changes at
home that might affect the center, etc.
Notification of absences
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Communicate About Who Does
What
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Who initiates enrollment; what information
needed
Day to day contact with HS
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Foster Parents
Who signs which forms
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Screenings
Field Trips
Incident Reports (minor)
Incident Reports (serious)
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Communicate About Who to
Notify & When
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Progress/Problems
Events at School
Screening Results
Accidents/Incidents
Suspicion of Abuse/Neglect
Confidentiality
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Successful Collaboration
Indicators
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Information is shared
HS FPAs & DCFS Service Plans coordinated
Child progress reports are discussed, including
child outcomes
Child pick up/drop off, attendance, etc. policies
are clear & followed
Referrals made only after discussion between
Caseworker & Head Start
Foster parent & Teacher touch base daily about
child
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Successful Collaboration
Indicators
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Foster parents & Caseworker attend
meetings/trainings at HS
Kindergarten transitions & placement changes
are discussed & mutually planned
Caseworker helps HS family support staff with
family agreements, case management, home
visits
Prompt notification of accidents & incidents
occurs
HS staff & parents are trained on abuse/neglect
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IL Head Start Resources
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www.ilheadstart.org
www.ilearlychildhoodcollab.org
IL Head Start Association (Lauri
Morrison Frichtl, Executive Director)
217-241-3511 lfrichtl@ilheadstart.org
Head Start State Collaboration Office
(Gina Ruther, Director) 618-583-2083
gina.ruther@illinois.gov
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