Jim O’BrienHead Start Bureau

Health and Disabilities Services Branch

330 C Street, SW

Washington, DC 20447

Phone: (202) 205-8646

email: jobrien@acf.dhhs.gov

Head Start and Early Head Start are:

Comprehensive child development programs with overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.

FY 2003 Data ENROLLMENT 909,608

5 year olds and older 5%4 year olds 54%3 year olds 34%Under 3 years of age 8%

GRANTEES 1,670Number of Classrooms 47,000Number of Centers 19,200

Since 1972: Head Start Act has required

• ... no less than 10 percent of the total number of enrollment opportunities in Head Start programs in each State shall be available for children with disabilities and that services shall be provided to meet their special needs.

Head Start Act, Sec. 640 (d)

• Such policies and procedures shall require Head Start agencies to coordinate programmatic efforts with efforts to implement part C and section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

2003-04 • Head Start and EHS programs

in 2,000 communities included about 110,000 children with disabilities

• This is over 12% of Head Start enrollment.

Elements of Quality Disabilities Services

• Provide children with disabilities and their families with the full range of comprehensive services available to Head Start children and provide individualized services as indicated by the IEP/IFSP.

• Parent participation throughout process.

• Access services and resources for children with disabilities and their families; link families with local support programs; support parent efforts to advocate for their child.

Head Start Definition - 45 CFR 1304.3

• Children ages 3 to 5 with disabilities are those with a condition (from list of IDEA categories)……. and, who, by reason thereof, need special education and related services.

Definition of Disability for Infants and Toddlers: 45 CFR 1304.3a2

• Infants and toddlers with disabilities are those from birth to age three years, as identified under the Part C program of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), as implemented in their State.

Children with Disabilities 3 and 4 year olds (2002 estimate)

IDEA reported children inHead Start

Other IDEA 3 and 4 year olds

The Head Start Bureau sponsors

Training and Technical Assistance activities

to support the inclusion of

children with disabilities in Head Start.

http://www.csefel.uiuc.edu

The Center develops and disseminate evidence-based, user-friendly information to help early childhood educators meet the needs of the growing number of children with challenging behaviors and mental health challenges in child care and Head Start programs.

A Head Start/Child Care Bureau collaboration

• Training modules designed to be most useful in addressing the social-emotional needs of young children. The content of the modules is consistent with evidence-based practices identified through a thorough review of the literature.

• 4 modules (English and Spanish)

WHAT WORKS BRIEFS• Using Classroom Activities and Routines as

Opportunities to Support Peer Interaction by T. Bovey, P. Strain

• Helping Children Learn to Manage Their Own Behavior by L. Fox, S. Garrison

• Using Choice and Preference to Promote Improved Behavior, by G. Dunlap, D. Liso

• Seventh year of this project. Funded in partnership with the Hilton Foundation

• Supporting collaboration in over 500 communities, this project brings together local teams of parents, early intervention providers and child care providers to work with their EHS program improve the inclusion of infants and toddlers with significant disabilities.

http://www.specialquest.org

REGIONAL COORDINATORS

Regions I, II, III, XII - Theresa Bologna

Regions IV, XI, XII – Patricia Mullings Franco

Regions V, VII (MO, IA), XI,- Jerry Hindman Regions VI, VIII, XI –Cathy Liles

Regions VII (KS, NE), IX, X, XI – Aracelly Valverde

HEARING HEAD START PROJECT

Participating Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Programs

• KS• NC• OR• UT• WA

http://challengingbehavior.fmhi.usf.edu/index.html

• Grants to Governors Offices address range of issues on the coordination of services for young children; many include a special emphasis on services for children with disabilities.

• Work with TA providers to develop/implement Statewide agreements on serving young children with disabilities; emphasis on local coordination as required by IDEA and Head Start Act.

http://www.headstartinfo.org

• Head Start Publications and General Information

• Find a Head Start Program Near You

Head Start’s National Technical Assistance Network

• TA Network employs a Disabilities Specialist in each ACF Region to support the technical assistance efforts regarding disabilities services.

• These specialists serve as resources to our Regional Offices and the over 150 locally-based TA specialists supporting local programs. Their work includes promoting local interagency agreements between our grantees and local school systems and early intervention/Part C providers.

Regional Content Specialists

• One in each region:– Disabilities– Health– Early Learning & Literacy– Program Design & Management– Fiscal– Family & Community Partnership– Infants & Toddlers

Types of national support:

– Facilitating monthly conference calls– Managing collaborative website– Answering questions – Responding to resource requests– Making connections

Head Start National TA Priorities

• Improving services to children with disabilities and their families,

• Including children with disabilities effectively, and

• Enhancing collaboration with partners