West Virginia Head Start Association

Who We Are:
The West Virginia Head Start Association, Inc. (WVHSA) is a private not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) membership organization composed of twenty-two Head Start, one delegate and nine Early Head Start programs with approximately 1,700 staff serving more than 7,500 children and families in West Virginia. It is governed by an elected 21-member Board of Directors composed of Program Directors, staff, parents and friend representatives. The West Virginia Head Start Association works to continue to strengthen Head Start and Early Head Start programs for the benefit of children and families through advocacy, professional development and strong state, regional and national alliances.

HISTORY:
In April of 1985 the West Virginia Head Start Association was three separate organizations created to meet networking needs within the Head Start community. The West Virginia Head Start Directors/Administrators’ Association, the West Virginia Head Start Staff Association and the West Virginia Parents’ Association joined together loosely to work together through an umbrella organization, the West Virginia Head Start Association. The work of the state association was carried out completely by volunteers who served on the Board of Directors or as members of the affiliate organizations.

In the mid 1990’s a fourth Affiliate became an active part of the West Virginia Head Start Association, the Friends Affiliate.

In October of 1997, the WVHSA Board of Directors worked to redesign the structure of the association to create a stronger organization that could “speak with one voice” for the Head Start community in West Virginia. At that point, the four organizations dissolved and united as a single West Virginia Head Start Association.

The need for a non-volunteer Association staff grew as the West Virginia Head Start community’s information, training, and advocacy needs grew. In 2000, the first West Virginia Head Start Association Executive Director was selected from a statewide pool of candidates.

The West Virginia Head Start Association continues to grow and currently has a membership of 100 % of the Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and delegate. The West Virginia Head Start Association represents parents, staff, administrators and friends of Head Start and works to influence state and federal policymakers to make changes need to improve the lives of Head Start eligible families. The West Virginia Head Start Association works with other statewide and national advocacy organizations to promote policy changes that will positively impact the lives of children, especially low-income. The association provides opportunities for Head Start staff, administrators, and parents to learn from each other and work to improve the quality of Head Start services.