Partnering with Easterseals
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Partnering with Easterseals
Transcript of Partnering with Easterseals
Partnering with Easterseals
HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM
Easterseals
Mission StatementWe are a Chicago non-profit, community-based HeadStart and Early Head Start partnership program thatrecognizes individual strengths and empowers childrenand their families that have limited access to resources.Through supportive collaborations with private earlychildhood programs, our integrated teams providehands-on, comprehensive quality services to givechildren and their families the opportunity for a brighterfuture and a head start to success.
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U. S. Federal Government
Grantee
Easterseals
Partnership
EHS/HS Sites
Head Start Partnership Program
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In July 2015, Easterseals was awarded a federal Head Start/Early Head Start grant for parts of Suburban Cook County. Currently we have partnerships with 22 private child care centers/agencies in the West and South Suburbs in Cook County.
HS and EHS are 12 month programs, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week.
Who Do We Serve and what do we Provide?
Who is Eligible
• Residents of approved zip codes and cities
• Children from 6 weeks to five years
• Families meeting poverty guidelines
• Families with high risk factors
• Families that are homeless
• Foster Children
• Children with disabilities
Comprehensive Support Services
• Family Engagement
• Education/Inclusion
• Mental Health
• Health/Nutrition
• Human Resources
• Environmental Health and Safety
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• Meet with parents at time of enrollment to complete all documents and start the relationship building process. During this meeting the parent and advocate will form goals for the program year and talk about all needs the parents may have.
• Assist parents with referrals and resources (Housing, employment, job training, free activity workshops, behavior health counseling).
• Community resource liaison.
• Complete monthly recruitment plans with advocate and education/inclusion coach and ensure that recruitment activities are taking place on a monthly basis.
• Assist the center with planning parent involvement activities (Workshops, field trips, stress management, parent meetings and other community activities)
• Monitor attendance in COPA as well as in the classroom and document it on the site verification.
• Monitor classroom ratio and document it on the site verification.
• Print resources for parent board on a weekly basis
• Assist education/inclusion team with getting required documentation
• Advocate for parents as needed
Family Engagement
Family Engagement Requirements
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• Input attendance into COPA• Attend semi-annual component meetings• Year Round Recruitment/Marketing• Parent Committee that meets at least quarterly• Parent Policy Committee Representative• Workshops/Parent Involvement Activities• Assist with enrollment process• Meet DFSS requirements as they are presented• No Fees/Supplies/Fundraising charged to HS/EHS
parents during the HS program year
Education
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• Complete the education documents with the parents at the enrollment meetings and pass along the appropriate forms to the classroom teachers.
• Assist teachers with making the education folders.• Assist the teachers with their lesson plans and the implementation of the Creative
Curriculum.• Assist the teachers with Room Arrangements to ensure the best learning
environment/making it accessible to children with special needs. • Coach teachers to improve classroom practices and child outcomes through
relationship building, observations, modeling, and professional development • Offer Staff Workshops throughout the year, chosen by teachers and directors.• Complete bi-monthly observations in the classroom/offer feedback and strategies
to support classroom.• Assist teachers with home visits and parent teacher conferences.• Assist teachers with completing screenings and providing screening trainings as
needed.
Education Requirements
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• Qualified Teachers/ Appropriate Ratios• Screenings- ESI/ASQ:SE/Parent Questionnaire Within 45 days of
enrollment• Two parent teacher conferences (1st by Nov/Dec & 2nd by May/June)• Two home visits that occur in the home (1st prior to enrollment & 2nd by
April)• Teaching Strategies GOLD observations: 2 per objective, per dimension,
per child, per checkpoint• Weekly lesson plans generated in Teaching Strategies GOLD, approved
by site admin. and passed on to coach for approval and tracking.• Child Portfolios • Three Assessments a year (TS Gold) (1st-Oct. 2nd-Feb. 3rd-May)
Head Start Teacher Qualifications
Teacher• A baccalaureate or
advanced degree in ECE• A baccalaureate or
advanced degree in a related field with at least 10 classes (27 hours) in ECE (equivalent to a major) with experience teaching preschool age children
Teacher Assistant• Child Development
CDA with preschool endorsement
• Have associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree in any area with at least 6 hours in ECE
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Education Requirements
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• Qualified Teachers/ Appropriate Ratios• Screenings- ESI/ASQ:SE/Parent Questionnaire Within 45 days of
enrollment• Two parent teacher conferences (1st by Nov/Dec & 2nd by May/June)• Two home visits that occur in the home (1st prior to enrollment & 2nd by
April)• Teaching Strategies GOLD observations: 2 per objective, per dimension,
per child, per checkpoint• Weekly lesson plans generated in Teaching Strategies GOLD, approved
by site admin. and passed on to coach for approval and tracking.• Child Portfolios • Three Assessments a year (TS Gold) (1st-Oct. 2nd-Feb. 3rd-May)
EHS Teacher Qualifications
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*Two Head Teachers
• A CDA with infant-toddler specialization, associate Degree, baccalaureate or advanced degree in ECE
• An associate or baccalaureate degree in a related field with at least 10 classes in ECE
Required Teacher Trainings
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• Teaching Strategies GOLD Basic• Creative Curriculum Overview and
Implementation• Interrater Reliability• Teacher Orientation• CLASS training• Teaching Strategies GOLD• Screening Reliability
Head Start Classroom Sizes
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The maximum capacity of a regular Head Start Classroom is 20 children depending on the age of the children on September 1st at the beginning of this school year (this number includes Head Start and non-Head Start children)
The maximum capacity of a Head Start Classroom with the majority of 3 year olds is 17 children (A child’s age is determined by how old the child was on September 1st at the beginning of this school year and does not change even if the child turns 4 in the middle of the school year)In order to have 20 children in the Head Start classroom, the majority of children need to be age eligible for kindergarten at the Chicago Public Schools next school year.
The maximum capacity of a Head Start classroom with double sessions is 17 children, depending on the age of the children on September 1st at the beginning of this school year (this number includes Head Start and non-Head Start children)
The maximum capacity of a double session Head Start Classroom with the majority of 3 year olds is 15 children (A child’s age is determined by how old the child was on September 1st at the beginning of this school year and does not change even if the child turns 4 in the middle of the school year)In order to have 17 children in the Head Start double session classroom, the majority of children need to be age eligible for kindergarten at the Chicago Public Schools next school year.
Early Head Start Classroom Sizes
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The maximum capacity of any Early Head Start Classroom is
8 children
(This number includes Early Head Start and non- Early Head Start children)
1302.21 Head Start Performance Standard – Center-based Option
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(1) Staff-child ratios and group size maximums must be determined by the age of the majority of children and the needs of children present. A program must determine the age of the majority of children in a class at the start of the year and may adjust this determination during the program year, if necessary. Where state or local licensing requirements are more stringent than the teacher-child ratios and group size specifications in this section, a program must meet the stricter requirements. A program must maintain appropriate ratios during all hours of program operation, except:
(i) For brief absences of a teaching staff member for no more than five minutes; and,(ii) During nap time, one teaching staff member may be replaced by one staff member or volunteer who does not meet the teaching qualifications required for the age.
1302.21 Head Start Performance Standard – Center-based Option
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(3) A class that serves a majority of children who are three years old must have no more than 17 children with a teacher and teaching assistant or two teachers. A double session class that serves a majority of children who are three years old must have no more than 15 children with a teacher and teaching assistant or two teachers.
(4) A class that serves a majority of children who are four and five years old must have no more than 20 children with a teacher and a teaching assistant or two teachers. A double session class that serves a majority of children who are four and five years old must have no more than 17 children with a teacher and a teaching assistant or two teachers.
4 and 5 year oldsNo more than 20 children enrolled in any class. No more than 17 children enrolled in any double session class.
3 year oldsNo more than 17 children enrolled in any class. No more than 15 children enrolled in any double session class.
1302.21 Head Start Performance Standard – Center-based Option
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(2) An Early Head Start class that serves children under 36 months old must have two teachers with no more than eight children, or three teachers with no more than nine children. Each teacher must be assigned consistent, primary responsibility for no more than four children to promote continuity of care for individual children. A program must minimize teacher changes throughout a child’s enrollment, whenever possible, and consider mixed age group classes to support continuity of care.
Under 3 years oldNo more than 8 or 9 children enrolled in any class, depending on the number of teachers.
Inclusion Requirements
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• Willing to accept children with disabilities.• Must have 10% of children with disabilities at center.• In the marketing materials it must say “children with disabilities are
accepted” “all inclusive environment” “children with all abilities accepted”.
• Assist in gathering paperwork that is necessary to refer a child to CPS.
• Attend SRT, Evaluation and IEP meetings.• Submit referral & screenings to Education/Inclusion Coach so they
may submit referral.• Individualize for & accommodate children with special needs in the
classroom and in weekly lesson plans. • Complete observations of children that are in need of being referred.
Including children with Disabilities
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• Help teachers and families identify children that may benefit from further evaluation.
• Support families and CPS with the evaluation process for children with suspected disabilities.
• Attend any meetings associated with the referral process.• Assist teachers with individualizations and modifications.• Offer trainings to staff on individualization, autism, or any other
special needs related topics.• Complete periodic observations to help ensure that all children are
being included in all activities.• Support children who have IEPs (Individual Education Plan).• Check screenings and results to ensure they were implemented
and scored correctly.
Health
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• Update all health documents, such as physical, dental, immunization, insurance, health history and enter into COPA Child Outcome Planning Assessment system.
• Measure children’s height and weight twice a year and provide referrals as needed.
• Reinforce family style meal services and dental hygiene; work with families on nutrition and alternate food plan.
• Develop cooperative relationship with local health professionals and assist families in location a Doctor or Dentist near them that accepts their insurance.
• Provide staff and parent training on Head Start health requirements.
• Help any child with health needs.
• Help families apply for all kids or other insurance if they are not already insured.
Health Requirements
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• Physical and Dental (Once a Year for HS and every well baby check for EHS).
• Copy of Insurance Card.• Health History (Once a year).• Nutrition Assessment (Once a year for infants and toddlers).• Immunization Record.• Assisting Family and Health Advocates to collect required
documentation.• Assist with hearing and vision and heights and weights to
ensure all children are present and familiar with the process.
Nutrition
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Certified/licensed nutritionists review site menus to ensure nutritious foods are offered to Head Start/Early Head Start children.
Nutritionists offer alternate food plan to children who need special diet.
A Nutrition action plan is offered to children with weight issues.
Advocates will help parents communicate with nutritionist when they need consultation about nutrition services.
Nutrition workshop are provided for staff and parents
Help any child/family with nutritional needs.
Mental Health
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Mental Health Consultants are assigned to all sites.
Provide 3 crises counseling sessions to parents and families on an as needed basis.
Provide outside referrals on an as needed basis.
Provide a minimum of 3 workshops for parents and staff.
Offer modeling in the classroom.
Provide individual observations and consultation to parents and teachers to support children with challenging behaviors or social-emotional concerns
Mental Health Requirements
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• Attend Planning Meeting in August and all other mental health staff/parent meetings/workshops.
• By October 15th a parent planning/orientation needs to occur.• A minimum of 3 parent workshops throughout the school year for
EHS & HS.• A minimum of 3 staff workshops throughout the school year for
EHS & HS.• 2 General observations (by Oct 30th & Feb. 28th) and a 3rd
observation (April 30th) for EHS with feedback meetings that occur within one week of the observations.
• Promote all parent/staff workshops/meetings.
Human Resources RequirementsA Head Start/Early Head Start parent must be involved in all interviews and hiring process of all Head Start/Early Head Start staff at the program.Easterseals must receive all required documents below before the classroom can be certified and eligible for payment. Documents include the following:
• Resume
• 3 letters of reference
• Education Transcripts
• Signed Job Description
• Hire Date
• DCFS Background Clearance with
Dates
• Agreement of Program Policies
and Drug free Policy
• I-9
• CANTS 22
• 508-1
• First Aid and CPR
• Medical Screening
• Professional Development Plan
• DTAP
• PIR form
• Hepatitis B Waiver
• Child Guidance and Discipline
Policy acknowledgement
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Human Resources Requirements
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The Head Start/Early Head Start employee must complete 15 hours of in-service training annually. Easterseals requires that all trainings be forwarded to our human resources department monthly. Additionally, employees must be evaluated within 6 months of employment. Evaluations must also be forwarded to Easterseals for tracking.
Safe Environments
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• Conduct facility assessments twice per yearo Indoor area and outdoor play area o Evacuation planso Documented drillso Fire Extinguisherso Emergency lights
Transitions
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• There are four types of transition plans that are tracked monthlyo Into the programo Into the program with IEPo Within the programo Out of program
• Work with teachers and families to complete all transition plans
• Conduct playdates for children with Intensive Individualized Support Needs
• Assist teacher with providing strategies, modeling and trainings
Busing (Field Trip) Requirements
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All Field Trips involving HS children MUST be scheduled through Easterseals
(EHS is not allowed on buses due to weight requirements for harnesses)
• Programs are required to conduct 3 bus evacuations per program year
• Easterseals will pay for 2 field trips and 2 bus evacuations per program year; the partner program must pay for the 3rd bus evacuation drill
• 1st evacuation drill must be completed and documented within the first 30 days of the program start date
• Required paperwork must be completed and submitted at each drill/field trip and submitted to Easterseals within 72 hours
Payment
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Currently Easterseals pays on a sliding scale based on a site’s other funding sources and accreditations (CPS, NAEYC). We are working on a tiered reimbursement system based on quality indicators within the site as well as level of support needed.
• Head Start Funding: $200 per child per month
• Early Head Start Funding: $250 per child per month
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Questions and
Answers
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