Missouri Head Start Association

“Expenses supplies 136 miscellaneous/admin expenses 1,039 web hosting fees 650 travel 1,072 conferences & meetings held 21,399 region vii dues 6,900 total 31,196”

“Accounts receivable 11,461 13,716 total 11,461 13,716”

“The primary exempt purpose of the missouri head start association is to promote advocacy, education and leadership of head start agencies throughout the state of missouri.”

“Leadership & training- mhsa designs and/or provides effective leadership & training by- providing parent and staff leadership training in jefferson city, mo in february, may, september, and december 2013 through the mhsa council meetings. These trainings allow interaction for head start management staff and family leaders elected to the mhsa council to receive training on various topics from immunizations, emergency preparedness planning, instruction on providing outdoor learning environments for young children and the importance of forming early literacy skills. Mhsa also provides continuous family leadership training through regular legislative updates and tools to inform parents on how to effectively speak with locally and state-wide elected officials about the needs of this population. Approximately 125-150 people participated. Providing classroom assessment scoring system training (class) and follow up continuously throughout 2013 in columbia, mo. Mhsa uses this scientifically based and heavily researched instrument to improve the quality of teacher to child interactions in the educational setting. Education coordinators are instructed on how to use the rating system for teachers as a professional development tool. Mhsa provides the administrative and general support needed to offset the costs of this training to be offered to head start, early head start and child daycare partnerships across missouri. Approximately 75-100 people received thisinstruction in 2013. Providing intensive instruction for head start home visitors and home-based head start. Mhsa provided a series of two week instructions focused on advancing the skills of head start home visitors charged with working to engage families in the process of parenting and becoming active participants in their child's early education needs. Workshops were provided in columbia, mo from january 2013 to december 2013 and supported by in-person and webinar follow-up. The group has formed a community of practice to continue their learning and expanded to include local education agency staff also involved in home visits past the age of 5 to help ease the transition from head start to kindergarten. Approximately 75 individuals have actively participated through 2013 and the community of practice offerings grew to include professionals in fields of early head start (infant/toddler care), disabilities, health and family engagement. In partnership with other head start serving organizations, mhsa continued a year-long approach to professional development utilizing the expertise of the head start national centers and that of local program staff to provide a year-long intensive, "school readiness summit" that allowed for expert guidance and resources presenters virtually by head start national training center staff and then individual guidance and knowledge sharing through a community of practice model for head start local program staff. These groups meet monthly at the university of missouri-columbia, center for family policy & research.”

“Mhsa works to establish collaborative partnerships with other similar organizations and groups by- partnering with mhssco, head start t/ta, maca and region vii administration for children and families to identify and collaborate towards the success over struggles of head start programs in serving the needs of low-income families towards the school readiness of their children in a community model. This event, which served as a continuation of the head start-a critical link in the early education system annual training brought together head start programs within community action agencies and those located outside of that model to share on the resources available in every community regardless of placement in a caa. As recognition of the 50th year of community action, this event was charged with re-igniting the vital relationships in serving families that head start and community action work together towards. A dvd was created for programs to use in trainings and to share this information larger than those in the audience that day in february 2013. Participating in the special quest birth to five leadership team. State level work to explore the fundamentals of the special quest approach and development of a state specific action plan to infuse special quest resources into the statewide, cross-agency system of professional development for inclusion of young children with disabilities and their families. Currently drafting a policy brief to be shared with state legislators on the importance of inclusive education. Membership on the region vii head start association board of directors. As one of four states representing region vii, missouri has the largest amounts of children and staff. The needs of the children are greatly diverse depending on the location and resources at hand for each individual program. Mhsa serves as a voice for these programs on the regional board. This collaborative partnership is particularly important as it allows missouri's needs to be heard on a larger platform and to effectively pool resources with other states to better serve children in region vii. Ongoing partnerships with the missouri head start state collaboration office, region vii administration for children and families and region vii training and technical assistance team. Mhsa serves as the convener for most meetings between this group of collaborators to further expand our knowledge base of the scope of work and role of each agency and serving head start children and communities involved.”

“Increasing public awareness by- publishing and distributing regular email alert bulletins to the mhsa network which contains information on upcoming events, pending legislation, program highlights, and statewide initiatives. Provides an annual report and statistical information to mhsa membership and interested parties which are shared at regular council meetings in 2013. Providing a website which also provides information as outlined above. It also provides information regarding national and state statistics related to head start and low-income families in missouri.”