HEART OF THE VALLEY HEAD START

Annual
Public Report

July 2010 – June 2011

Heart of the Valley Head Start (HOVHS) provides services to 319 children and families in Gallia and Meigs counties. Income eligible children between the ages of 3-5 years may qualify to attend one of the centers. All classrooms are staffed with two licensed Teachers and at least one Teachers Aide whose time is split between the classrooms. Double session classes are held Tuesday – Friday for 3 ½ hours. While at the center, your child will be provided with a nutritious breakfast/snack and lunch, lots of fun and educational experiences. Transportation is provided for the double session for those accepted into the ½ day program. The buses are equipped with safety harnesses and a Bus Monitor.

The Meigs County Department of Jobs and Family Services has partnered with the HOVHS program to provide full day, full year child care to families who work part time, full time, or attend school or job training. The hours of operation for this classroom are 7:00 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Transportation is not provided for this classroom. 
Children in this classroom at the Bradbury Learning Center are offered
the same educational experiences as other Head Start children.

     ·        Total number of children and families served: During the 2010-2011 program year, HOVHS served a total of 383 children and families throughout Gallia and Meigs Counties.

    ·        Enrollment: HOVHS maintained an average monthly enrollment
of 319 children, meeting the ACF funded enrollment. 


    ·        Results of most recent Federal Monitoring Review:The
Heart of the Valley Head Start program received an on-site monitoring review from the Office of Head Start in December 2009. 
Child Health and Developmental Services were identified as an area of
noncompliance. All children did not receive a lead and hemoglobin screening.  A desk review with the program specialist was conducted in July 2010. After reviewing all documents, HOVHS was found to be in compliance. No further action was required after this follow-up.    

     ·        Results of most recent financial audit:The
most recent financial audit for AMESC for fiscal year 2010 is available at the Treasurer’s Office located at 39105 Bradbury Road, Middleport, OH. It should be noted that said audit contained no Management Letter as there were no findings of non-compliance.

      ·        Percentage of enrolled children that received medical and dental exams:  383 children received preventive dental care. 364 children completed a professional dental examination. 35 children were diagnosed as needing dental treatment. Of these, 72 children received or are receiving dental treatment. 383 children are up-to-date on a schedule of age-appropriate preventive and primary health care according to the state’s EPSDT schedule for well child care.

      ·        Information about parent involvement activities: Upon completing the enrollment packet, parents are offered the opportunity to be involved with the program. Parents are given the opportunity to provide
ideas for classroom activities and menu planning. Parents are encouraged to participate on field trips or share their culture. Parents attend Parent Committee meetings, serve on Policy Council, Health, and Education/Literacy Committees.

Along with regular site and committee meetings, there are fall, winter, and spring celebrations that take place during the school year. The sites also provide opportunities for parents or guardians to participate in events such as: Muffins for Moms, Donuts for Dads, Week of the Young Child activities, Thanksgiving Feast, end of the year family picnic, and
Graham Crackers for grandparents. 97 children’s fathers/father figures participated in activities that were provided throughout the year.

       ·        Heart of the Valley Head Start efforts to prepare children for kindergarten:  HOVHS uses the Creative Curriculum. This curriculum outlines goals in the eight domains of learning including social
emotional development, approaches to learning, literacy, language development, math, science, creative arts, and physical health and development. Staff used Brigance to screen children for
developmental, sensory, and behavioral concerns within 45 days of
enrollment. Staff assess, with the parent, the child’s developmental strengths and needs. Information is obtained through informal
interviews with the parent, developmental screenings, observations of the
child, Child Outcomes Assessment, and, if applicable, information from a
child’s Individualized Education Plan.  Teachers conduct 2 home visits and 2 parent – teacher conferences a year to discuss the child’s progress and skills.  Teachers review the Child Outcomes form, which identifies the child’s skills upon entering Head Start and exiting the program, with the parent at the parent-teacher conference that takes place at the end of the school year. The parent may sign and give permission for
this form to be sent to the elementary school in which the child will be
attending in the fall.  This document will provide the child’s kindergarten teacher with additional information on the child’s kindergarten readiness skills.

198 children enrolled in Head Start at the end of the enrollment year were
projected to be entering kindergarten in the fall. Children took field trips to the local elementary schools and were encouraged to participate in kindergarten classroom activities. 

At the end of the enrollment year, HOVHS held a Transition Celebration for children and families who were exiting the Head Start program and entering kindergarten in the fall. Public school representatives were invited to attend this celebration to discuss what is expected upon entering kindergarten.  This event gave parents the opportunity to meet the local school district staff and ask questions.

Head Start programs are required to make available to the public a report published at least once in each fiscal year that sets forth information in each categories listed below.

·        Funding:  HOVHS received a base
funding amount of $2,112,849.00 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 CACFP reimbursement is $131,447.65.

·        Budgetary expenditures FY10-11:

          Wages: $1,081,088.10

          Benefits: $581,298.19
 
          Supplies: $224,686.70

          Training: $31,428.11

          Contractual: $147,500.50

          Property/Vehicle Insurance: $17,237.42

          Indirect Costs: $67,761.00

Please note that total Administrative expenditures for the period is $214,254.65 said costs include wages, benefits, supplies, property/vehicle insurance, indirect costs, which is listed above.