Head Start Collaboration
West Virginia Head Start State Collaboration Office (WVHSSCO)
The WV Head Start Collaboration Office (WVHSSCO) is charged with facilitating and enhancing coordination and collaboration between Head Start/Early Head Start agencies and other state and local entities that provide comprehensive services designed to benefit low-income children from birth to age five and their families, as well as pregnant women. To achieve the goals of the Collaboration Office, the Collaboration Director:
- Participates in statewide interagency planning and information/resource sharing efforts addressing services for young children and their families, and promotes local Head Start/Early Head Start agency representation in these efforts;
- Promotes Head Start/Early Head Start agencies’ participation in statewide efforts to enhance or improve early identification and interventions relating to issues of concern for young children and their families;
- Promotes ongoing communication between service providers working with Head Start/Early Head Start grantees and other stakeholders to leverage their common interests in addressing the needs of Head Start/Early Head Start children and families;
- Facilitates Head Start/Early Head Start agencies’ access to and utilization of publicly funded services, so that Head Start/Early Head Start children and families can more efficiently and effectively secure needed services; and
- Convenes stakeholder groups for information sharing, planning, and other collaborative activities to strengthen family and community environments, and reduce the negative impact of high-risk behaviors on children’s development.
- Promotes alignment of curricula and assessments used in Head Start programs with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and as appropriate, State early learning standards.
- Serves as a member of the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care.
Head Start Collaboration Directors focus on ten specific service or priority areas – Health Care services, Homelessness, Welfare, Child Welfare, Child Care Services, Family Literacy, Disabilities, Community Services, Education, and Professional Development.
Since 1990, the Administration on Children and Families (ACF) has awarded Head Start State Collaboration Grants to support the development of multi-agency and public/private partnerships at the State level. These partnerships are intended to:
- assist in building early childhood systems and access to comprehensive services and support for all low-income children;
- encourage widespread collaboration between Head Start and other appropriate programs, services, and initiatives; and to augment Head Start's capacity to be a partner in State initiatives on behalf of children and their families; and
- facilitate the involvement of Head Start in State policies, plans, processes, and decisions affecting the Head Start target population and other low-income families.
- Involve the State Head Start Association in the selection of the individual and in determinations relating to the ongoing direction of the collaboration office.
With the rapid growth in State pre-kindergarten programs, such as West Virginia Universal Pre-k, Head Start must have current and complete information on State pre-kindergarten (pre-k) programs and must engage pre-k decision makers regularly and often to assure a coordinated, integrated approach to serving pre-school age children. The WVHSSCO plays an important role in supporting State and local level partnerships between Head Start and pre-k, including providing information and support to local Head Start programs that contract with Local Education Agencies to serve as providers of comprehensive early childhood services to Head Start eligible children participating in West Virginia pre-k. Notably, the Head Start Collaboration Director serves as a member of the WV Pre-k Steering Team.
The WV Pre-k Steering Team is an interagency advisory team of representatives from the WV Department of Education (WVDE), the WV Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR), and the WV Head Start Collaboration Office (WVHSSCO). The collaborative team offers statewide technical assistance to county collaborative teams implementing WVBE Policy 2525; as well as, providing recommendations on implementation and revisions of WVBE Policy 2525. The WV Pre-k Steering Team provides consistent and compatible direction, guidance, and technical assistance to local county Pre-k teams developing county pre-k plans in accordance with WVBE Policy 2525 in order to support and promote collaborative efforts and maximization of resources. This includes reviewing annual plans and addendums to approved plans and making recommendations to the Secretary of WVDHHR and the WVBE as outlined in WVBE Policy 2525 Section 6.
In addition, The WVHSSCO provides an essential single point of contact for both State agencies and local programs, informing stakeholders of current services, policies, and initiatives and including them in identifying opportunities for improvement. By working with the West Virginia Head Start Association and the Head Start/Early Head Start community, the WVHSSCO continues to enhance partnerships and mutually-developed agendas with the numerous agencies, organizations, foundations, and leaders involved in designated priority areas in support of low-income families.
