Anyone Partner with Head Start/Early Head Start?

[Blackcat31]

If so I am curious as to what your experience is in doing that.

I went to a training last night where we were given info on funding that is now available for FCC providers to partner with Early Head Start programs in our area.

This collaboration sounds like it would be a good idea but there are a few things that I am not comfortable with so I am just wondering if any other FCC providers in other states or areas in my state are partnering with Early Head Start in this capacity and what your experiences are in doing so.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/early-head-start-child-care-partnerships

[BigLittleHomeDaycare]

I am looking into this too! Thanks for posting. I was at a training that mentioned this is a great partnership. My YWCA offers assistance with setting it up. I will post any information I find in my own research.

[Heidi]

I am very interested in this. I've contacted our local Head Start Program several times, but they don't return my phone calls.

My sister did this for a while until they cut the funding for that program, and she liked it. The only thing was there is a lot of documentation required.

[Blackcat31]

I am very interested in this. I've contacted our local Head Start Program several times, but they don't return my phone calls.

My sister did this for a while until they cut the funding for that program, and she liked it. The only thing was there is a lot of documentation required.

Well so far from what I gather, they want FCC providers to basically run a "mini" early Head Start program in their homes/programs and EHS will provide a mentor/trainer/advisor person to assist the provider in making sure everything meets the EHS standards buuuuuut, they will ONLY allow you to have 6 kids TOTAL in care (which is ok for some states but that would only be half of the # of kids I have now) and to make it beneficial for the provider they are willing to pay $100 per week for each child (infant and toddler ONLY) that is participating in the EHS.

They said the $100 was so that providers could afford the materials and equipment and supplies that they need to meet those EHS standards.

My issue is that what they are really doing is having you (the FCC provider) care for the child until a space at EHS opens for them and then the family moves along and you (the FCC provider) loses the kid.

For me, if I dropped down to 6 kids, the lose of the other 4-6 kids I normally had would not be made up by that $100 a kid because whether I have 6 or 12 kids enrolled I can only have 3-4 infant and toddlers so that $400 would NOT equate for the loss of income.

So again, while I do think it is a good idea...it just seems like it is a benefit for Head Start and not at all a benefit for FCC providers.


ETA: I have NO idea how this will or won't work...I'm just thinking outloud about what I have been told so far...

[Unregistered]

So, basically you will be doing the prep work so that head start kids look great. That will make head start look quite successful, so hopefully they plan to give you all the credit for that!
Sounds like quite a deal . For them.

[Blackcat31]

So, basically you will be doing the prep work so that head start kids look great. That will make head start look quite successful, so hopefully they plan to give you all the credit for that!
Sounds like quite a deal . For them.

LOL!! :: That's what I was thinking too but wanted to see if others had a different experience because my judgement is clouded and jaded due to past experiences with HS so...

[Country Kids]

From what I have heard:

They do want you to keep a smaller group (I can only have 6 preschoolers anyway)
So much of your group would be Head Start Children
Those spots will be paid whether they are full or not

One of my friends is looking into launching it here and I have an email about it. Let me see if I can find it and if there is any other info.

[Country Kids]

The email was a questionaire on participating in it.

Sorry I can supply more info!

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

I was partnered with head start here for 6 years but now they want a minimum of 3 state funded kids and I generally don't have that and well, we have guns and dogs so they can no longer insure me.
I got a dollar an hour for each qualifying kid. They did bring me some supplies and would photocopy and laminate for me. I loved my HS lady that came once a week for an hour. We would go for a walk and talk. Nice to have someone to bounce things off of.
It was A LOT of paperwork. And they had to come in to evaluate their kids on a regular basis and that took a lot of time.

[spinnymarie]

I've heard a little bit about it, was approached by our ... liason? but as someone else has said, here it only counts of the kids would qualify for head start income levels, which, in my case, I have very few (or none) of.

[Annalee]

If so I am curious as to what your experience is in doing that.

I went to a training last night where we were given info on funding that is now available for FCC providers to partner with Early Head Start programs in our area.

This collaboration sounds like it would be a good idea but there are a few things that I am not comfortable with so I am just wondering if any other FCC providers in other states or areas in my state are partnering with Early Head Start in this capacity and what your experiences are in doing so.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/...e-partnerships

I looked into it mainly because of the grant that comes with it and was warned to stay away unless I wanted to lose control of my business....it seems there is an alterior motive behind this. I was also told if I qualified to partner with hs I would still fall under licensing but still have Head Start rules/regs as well...

[Blackcat31]

*sigh*

will there ever be a federally funded program that promotes and supports us?

....seems everything they push/advertise goes against supporting the small business owner/"family" care provider. :confused:

[Annalee]

*sigh*

will there ever be a federally funded program that promotes and supports us?

....seems everything they push/advertise goes against supporting the small business owner/"family" care provider. :confused:

[Unregistered]

Government programs seem to want a "script" for how to achieve the generic results that look good on paper. Do 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. and a successful citizen will emerge from the child.

Why don't children come with a handbook? Because they are individuals.
You can't do exactly the same thing with each child and have each one be equally successful.

That is why each parent is different. And each child care provider is different.
And even the ones who say they do the same exact thing with each child, also say that they will not provide certain kinds of care. Hence, those children end up with a different provider, who uses different methods, that hopefully help that child achieve his or her potential.

[Unregistered]

LOL!! :: That's what I was thinking too but wanted to see if others had a different experience because my judgement is clouded and jaded due to past experiences with HS so...

You could pay me a million dollars and I would never work in a HS again. I did my student teaching in a HS and was hired through another one that was board of education affiliated. Which basically meant I was a boe employee. I had benefits, teacher salary, and would qualify for tenure. I saw a lot of things that weren't supposed to go on. Not abuse, but ideals not being upheld. I also saw a lot of uncertified teacher being hired, because they would be paid sub wage and the admin would keep the rest. This was not in an area with a teacher shortage. My third year, the year before I would make tenure, they fired me during Christmas break. I literally got a letter in the mail telling me I was let go. I can't remember the bogus excuse I got. Another thing I won't forget is for weeks I called them to get my things that I purchased with my own money. Thankfully, my husband is a cop and everything had a address label. He to threaten legal action if I didn't get things I had paid for. When I was finally "allowed" to get my things, they had the new teacher get it and she a B! Smirking and hair flipping and just thinking she the queen of the universe. I'm not a violent person, but I would have liked to slap her. The best is, my containers had labels on the lid and the bottom. If you saw them, you would think the labels were only on the top. They were ripped off. Like you could see residue. Not normal wear and tear. They must have tried to steal my stuff and saw I put multiple labels and gave up. A few months later, I started my own daycare. Anyway, August of that year I got a call asking if I would like to be a substitute. That if I played my cards right I MIGHT be able to be teacher, but I would starting out with a first year teacher salary. It was all a dog and pony show to deny me tenure and lower my salary. HS is a very shady corporation. They will do anything to save a penny. Also, if you agree to this you will be getting bottom of the barrel parents. Parents who send their children in dirty and hungry but the parents will have hair done and their nails done. Make you wait past closing time. That's why you're getting the 100 dollars extra. They know these parents will be late or do other costly things.