PRIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. HEAD START ANNUAL REPORT PY 2011-12 PRIDE Community Services provides early child development services through the Head Start program for two hundred and fifty one (251) children and families. The program serves the entire geographical area of Logan County. Vision Statement: PRIDE Community Services will serve as a driving force in creating a community where people are empowered with resources and opportunities to reach their greatest potential. Mission Statement: PRIDE Community Services makes a positive impact on the lives of those in need by bringing together educational, financial and human resources that support self-sufficiency. Promise of Community Action: “Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.” PRIDE Community Services Programs: PRIDE Community is a non-profit community action agency providing the following services in Logan County: Head Start, Weatherization, Seniors, Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), In-Home Care Services, Case Management, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Right from the Start Program, Residential Energy Assistance Program (REAP) and Community Housing Development Organization-Single Family Housing Program. Head Start In order to accommodate the needs of the area’s families, the program implements center based classes. Children were served in nine (9) Head Start collaborative classrooms and fifteen (15) LEA collaborative classrooms in Logan County. Head Start operated in collaboration with the LEA in Logan County. Locations of the classrooms are as follows: Head Start Collaborative Classrooms Chapmanville Center Dehue Center Logan Center Lorado Center South Man Elementary LEA Collaborative Classrooms 1 classroom 3 classrooms 2 classrooms 1 classroom 2 classrooms Buffalo Elementary East Chapmanville Elementary Holden Elementary Hugh Dingess Elementary Justice Elementary Logan Elementary 1 1 classrooms 2 classrooms 1 classrooms 1 classsroom 1 classroom 1 classrooms Omar Elementary South Man Elementary Verdunville Elementary West Chapmanville Elementary Dehue Integrated BOE Class 1 classroom 2 classrooms 1 classroom 3 classrooms 1 classroom The service areas in Head Start include: Education: The education component is designed to meet each child’s individual needs. The plans are determined based upon the child’s developmental level and early childhood best practices as set forth by Head Start Performance Standards, WV Early Learning Standards Framework and Creative Curriculum. Health: Health Start provides all children with a comprehensive health care program, including medical, dental, mental health and nutrition services. Family Services: Families are supported in assessing their own strengths and identifying areas of interest regarding goals for their family. Parent training opportunities are provided throughout the year. Parent Involvement: Parents are the child’s primary teacher. The Head Start program strongly encourages parents to become involved in the program through center volunteerism, parent center committees and Policy Council representation. Transportation: School buses are available to transport children to the centers and Head Start activities. Family Literacy: Literacy is evident throughout all learning centers in the Head Start classrooms. Parents are encouraged to read to their children and to participate in literacy activities. Staffing in the classrooms includes both Head Start employees and Board of Education employees, depending on the classroom. Teaching staff is qualified and credentialed to teach preschool aged children, either through an appropriate degree (MA; BA; AA) and state certified or working toward state certification and degree. Training is ongoing for all staff in order to ensure that the most current child development practices are incorporated into children’s daily activities. Training opportunities are shared between the two agencies (Head Start and LEA). Enrollment Enrollment eligibility statistics for the 2011-12 school year is as follows: 250 Enrollment Statistics 200 150 100 50 0 Income below 100% of Poverty Level Income 135%-100% of Federal Poverty Level 2 Over Income Number of Children Number enrolled with: Income below 100% of Federal Poverty Level Income 135% - 100% of Federal Poverty Level Receipt of public assistance Status as a Foster Child Status as Homeless Over Income Total funded enrollment Average monthly enrollment (as a percentage of funded enrollment) Percentage of eligible children served Percentage of enrolled children that received medical and dental exams 211 35 187 13 0 5 251 100% 67% 100% Federal Review of the Head Start Program The Head Start Program participated in a comprehensive triennial federal on-site review conducted by the Office of Head Start in October 2011. The Head Start Protocol review instrument was used to thoroughly evaluate PRIDE Community Services Head Start Program’s effectiveness in delivering services to children and families according to the Head Start Performance Standards. A team of five (5) individuals visited the program to meet and interview staff, parents and community partners as well as inspecting classrooms and facilities. Team members reviewed children’s files (which included information concerning educational, disabilities, health, mental health and nutrition, parent, and contacts), financial records, personnel files, facilities and playgrounds. Based on information during the review, the Head Start Program was found to be out of compliance in five (5) areas. The noncompliances were documented in the areas of Program Design and Management, Health Services and Facilities: 1304.20 Child Health Status 1304.51 Management systems and Procedures 1304.53 Facilities, Materials and Equipment Head Start Act; Section 644 (a)(2) Head Start Act; Section 648A Staff Qualifications and Development In accordance with the requirements specified by the Office of Head Start, the noncompliances cited in this report will be corrected within 120 days of the receipt of this report. More information may be obtained by contacting PRIDE Community Services, Inc. Independent Audit An independent audit of the agency’s financial policies and procedures is conducted annually. The Certified Public Accountant office of Suttle & Stalnaker, PLLC is the audit firm contracted to 3 ensure that procedures are compliant with federal standards. A complete copy of the audit and its components is available by contacting PRIDE Community Services, Inc. Funding, In Kind & Budgetary Expenditures The Head Start program is funded by the U.S. Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start. The program also receives generated funding from the West Virginia Department of Education through collaboration with the Logan County Board of Education. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides reimbursement for expenditures related to food costs through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Specific amounts and sources are as follows: Funding Regular Head Start Training & Technical Assistance Generated Funding Total Generated Funding 11% Federal/State $1,622,951 26,440 203,576 $1,852,967 Total Federal Funding Training & Technical Assistance 1% Regular Head Start 88% As a condition of the Head Start grant, the program is required to provide a local in-kind match of 20% for any federal funds received. This non-federal share of the grant award is provided through a variety of means that include, but are not limited to: parent participation in the program, space donations and partnerships with the local board of education. The minimum amount of non-federal share that is generated is: Funding Regular Head Start Training & Technical Assistance Total Non-Federal/State $405,738 6,610 $412,348 4 Training & Technical Assistance 2% Total Non-Federal Share Regular Head Start 98% Budget Categories Personnel Fringe Benefits Travel Equipment Supplies Contractual Construction Other Indirect Costs Total Regular Head Start $ 859,889 258,845 6,000 0 45,000 4,500 0 245,582 203,135 $ 1,622,951 T&TA 0 0 1,500 0 940 0 0 24,000 0 26,440 Generated 0 0 0 0 23,576 0 0 180,000 0 203,576 Total Budget $ 859,889 258,845 7,500 0 69,516 4,500 0 449,582 203,135 $ 1,852,967 Parent Involvement Parent Meetings and Policy Council Meeting are held monthly. Each center makes decisions at the local level and elects representatives to the program’s Policy Council. Throughout the school year, the Policy Council carries out shared program governance with the Board of Directors. Male Involvement activities included Pumpkin Carving and Painting in October. Parent Banquet is held in April in observance of Volunteer Month. A banquet is provided for the parents/volunteers and also a silent auction at which time parents use their “parent bucks” earned during the year. Family Fun Day in the Park is held during the month of May. Parents are also invited for Read to Me Week, Mother and Father’s Day activities and all holiday activities. Trainings, specific to parents’ needs, are provided throughout the year. Parents are welcomed at all times and encouraged to participate in all activities. 5 School Readiness Goals PRIDE Community Services Head Start provides a developmentally appropriate preschool program for children 3-5 years of age. Our program engages the child through differentiated learning in the following areas: Social emotional skills will be developed necessary to foster secure attachment, regulate behavior, emotions and concepts of personal identify. 1. Children will demonstrate age-appropriate decision making regarding activities, materials, routine and task. 2. Communicate and cooperate with familiar adults and peers. 3. Respond appropriately to the feelings of others. 4. Following simple rules, routine and directions. Physical Development/Health/Nutrition Staff will become an advocate for educating children as well as families in the fight against childhood obesity. 1. Provide families with valuable information through pamphlets, workshops, recipes and classroom activities. 2. Provide balanced meals and nutritional snacks that meet the USDA guidelines. 3. Children will participate in a minimum of 1 hours of gross motor activities per day. Cognitive Development will include logical thinking reasoning and problem solving. 1. Children will learn to organize their thoughts by classifying, comparing, measuring, counting and graphing objects. 2. Children will use past knowledge to build on new knowledge to solve problems and make connections. Approaches to Learning: Children will develop motivation to learning. 1. Ask questions, and seek new information. 2. Demonstrate eagerness to learn. 3. Join in cooperative play. 4. Plan, initiates and completes learning activities with peers. 5. Increase ability to maintain concentration over a reasonable amount of time despite distractions and interruptions. Language & Literacy: Teachers will engage children in activities that will increase abilities in receptive and expressive language skill. 1. Increase complex and varied vocabulary. 2. Increase understanding of sounds with written words. 3. Engage in storytelling. 4. Ask and answer questions and makes comments. 5. Increase ability to recognize a word as a unit of print. 6. Uses letter/sound recognition. 7. Identifies rhyming, patterns and syllables in words. 6 In order to ensure children and families have a smooth transition into the public school system, additional preparation for School Readiness will include: 1. Parents will receive a copy of the School Readiness Goals within the first 45 days of school. 2. Weekly communication flyer will be sent home concentrating on classroom activities. 3. An end of the year workshop for transitioning. 4. Review of activities covered in Head Start. 5. What to expect in Kindergarten-packet. 6. All children will have the opportunity to visit their home school with parents. 7. Transferring of records. 8. Transferring of assessment data: The WV Pre-K Child Assessment System Kindergarten Transition Report. Program Information Report PRIDE Community Services, Inc. Head Start Program is mandated to annually report program services. Results of this report are complied and submitted to the Office of Head Start annually. The information gained from this report helps local program identify strengths asd well as areas that continue to be challenging. This information is used in a variety of ways that include but are not limited to, local program goals and strategies, training and technical assistance plans, annual RISK Assessment process and etc. 7