FNA Early Head StartCreating an Awareness for the Future of Early Childhood

Angela Foster-Snow3/6/09

FNA Early Head Start FNA Early Head Start

Program Description~Program Description~FNA Early Head Start (EHS) is a federally FNA Early Head Start (EHS) is a federally

and state funded community-based and state funded community-based program for low-income, high needs program for low-income, high needs families with infants and toddlers and families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women; through a delivery pregnant women; through a delivery focusing on the cultural identity of all focusing on the cultural identity of all ethnic groups, with an emphasis on ethnic groups, with an emphasis on Alaska Native cultures.Alaska Native cultures.

  Our mission is simple~Our mission is simple~Through early intervention we will provide Through early intervention we will provide

high quality child development, health, high quality child development, health, education and nutrition services within education and nutrition services within a safe, culturally sensitive learning a safe, culturally sensitive learning environment through relationship environment through relationship based practices.based practices.

  

A Place for Families to Grow…A Place for Families to Grow…FNA Early Head Start FNA Early Head Start serves 40 children serves 40 children within the Center within the Center Base option and 101 Base option and 101 Children within the Children within the Head Start/ Early Head Start/ Early Head Start Home Head Start Home Base option. Base option.   

Through these options, we are given opportunities to empower our parents to be the strongest advocates for their children.

However our program is However our program is changing…changing…

Over the past 4 years we have seen a dramatic Over the past 4 years we have seen a dramatic increase in the following:increase in the following:

HomelessnessHomelessnessChildren coming into EHS with a IFSP or Children coming into EHS with a IFSP or

DiagnosisDiagnosisNumber of children waiting for services Number of children waiting for services

We are no longer able to meet the needs of our We are no longer able to meet the needs of our Community.Community.

What can we do???What can we do???

Build relationships with communityPartners that provide information andServices to our families in need.

Reach out to our homeless families and Let them know that there is a safe placeFor their child, regardless of income.

Look at opportunities for expansion.

What is happening at the What is happening at the Federal Level…Federal Level…

Earmarked Stimulus dollars for Early Head Start Earmarked Stimulus dollars for Early Head Start and Head Start, as well as many other Early and Head Start, as well as many other Early Childhood programs will help to open the doors Childhood programs will help to open the doors to many families in need. to many families in need.

$1 Billion for Head Start, allocated according to the $1 Billion for Head Start, allocated according to the current statutory formula, and $1.1 Billion for current statutory formula, and $1.1 Billion for Early Head Start, to be awarded on a Early Head Start, to be awarded on a competitive basis for expansion of existing competitive basis for expansion of existing programs.programs.

In a court case “Moore vs. State” filed back in 2004 In a court case “Moore vs. State” filed back in 2004 between some rather frustrated parents and the State of between some rather frustrated parents and the State of Alaska over the educational disparity between what the Alaska over the educational disparity between what the state defines and what it actually provides, Superior state defines and what it actually provides, Superior Court Judge Sharon Gleason ruled at the end of January Court Judge Sharon Gleason ruled at the end of January 09, that the State would have 60 days to improve the 09, that the State would have 60 days to improve the conditions for rural students or else the court may very conditions for rural students or else the court may very well make the decisions for them. well make the decisions for them. According to the Anchorage Daily NewsAccording to the Anchorage Daily News, February 11, , February 11, 2009; “the state has a duty to step up when the school 2009; “the state has a duty to step up when the school board is failing at its job”. board is failing at its job”.

As a result, Sarah Palin and the Education Department are As a result, Sarah Palin and the Education Department are currently asking the Legislature to spend an additional currently asking the Legislature to spend an additional $2.8 million on Early Childhood programs.$2.8 million on Early Childhood programs.

At the State Level: A recent Court Decision At the State Level: A recent Court Decision validates the affects of the absence of positive validates the affects of the absence of positive

Early Childhood Education in the State of Early Childhood Education in the State of AlaskaAlaska

At the State level… Two House Bills are currently At the State level… Two House Bills are currently addressing the needs of children and families.addressing the needs of children and families.

House Bill 69:House Bill 69: This bill would be known as the This bill would be known as the

“Alaska Parents as Teachers “Alaska Parents as Teachers Act.” Act.”

"An Act establishing in the "An Act establishing in the Department of Education and Department of Education and Early Development a voluntary Early Development a voluntary parent education home visiting parent education home visiting program for pre-elementary program for pre-elementary aged children; that provide aged children; that provide developmental education for developmental education for children and families within children and families within their own home or a pre-their own home or a pre-determined location, in determined location, in combination with monthly combination with monthly socialization opportunities.socialization opportunities.

House Bill 59:House Bill 59:This bill would require the Alaska This bill would require the Alaska

Department of Education to Department of Education to devise an early childhood devise an early childhood education plan for children 3 education plan for children 3 and 4 years old. This and 4 years old. This multifaceted bill would be a multifaceted bill would be a way for Alaska to implement way for Alaska to implement the Universal Pre-K the Universal Pre-K Philosophy with the guidance Philosophy with the guidance of existing programs.of existing programs.

Community Level…Community Level…

Child Care assistance rates are just within the last Child Care assistance rates are just within the last year, up to 50% of the actual cost.year, up to 50% of the actual cost.

This means that if the cost is $1000.00 per month, This means that if the cost is $1000.00 per month, for a infant or toddler; our families would have to for a infant or toddler; our families would have to come up with $500.00 out of pocket. come up with $500.00 out of pocket.

(Again, this is for each infant/ toddler in care.)(Again, this is for each infant/ toddler in care.)

Not many families are able to make that type of Not many families are able to make that type of financial commitment.financial commitment.

In the past 3 years, 6 Early Childhood Centers In the past 3 years, 6 Early Childhood Centers have closed along with numerous Family Child have closed along with numerous Family Child

Care Homes leaving over 500 children looking to Care Homes leaving over 500 children looking to replace quality, affordable, licensed care.replace quality, affordable, licensed care.

The FNA Early Head Start Wait pool has currently The FNA Early Head Start Wait pool has currently over 80 children waiting for services.over 80 children waiting for services.

Supervisors, businesses, and FNA Programs are Supervisors, businesses, and FNA Programs are effected by this lack of care. This absence of effected by this lack of care. This absence of care often prevents parents from working, or care often prevents parents from working, or

working without focus, and therefore perpetuates working without focus, and therefore perpetuates the cycle of our low income families.the cycle of our low income families.

At the Program Level…At the Program Level…

FNA Early Head Start is preparing to FNA Early Head Start is preparing to expand.expand.

Now that we have shared this Now that we have shared this information with you… Pass it ON!information with you… Pass it ON!

Our Community needs to Our Community needs to create an awareness of create an awareness of

the need for quality, the need for quality, affordable, child affordable, child

development programs. development programs. Sharing your personal story Sharing your personal story

or the information we just or the information we just talked about with your talked about with your

neighbors, supervisors, neighbors, supervisors, and of course your and of course your

legislators is imperative. legislators is imperative. Awareness is the key to Awareness is the key to

change! change! Lynda Page, Alaska EHSTeacher of the Year 2008-2009