Program Year 2011 - 2012
Program Funding
Federal Head Start Contract Amount. . . . . . . . . $955,279
Grant Allocation/Cost Categories: Personnel - $890,429; Supplies/Other Operational Costs - $52,337; Training - $12,513
Local In-Kind Match . . . .$238,820 The In-Kind match is acquired through the donatin of goods and services to the local program. These non-monetary contributions include time given by program volunteers as well as services provided by Carter county Schools at no cost to Head Start. During this program year, Head Start parents contributed over $40,000 by volunteering in their child's center. Professional school support staff contributed an additional $46,000+ through the provision of direct services to Head Start children.
Federal Food Program . . .$ 90,000
Local Contributors:
Elizabethton Kiwanis Club . . . $ 1,700 This civic organization donated funds to be used to meet special and/or emergency needs of Head Start families. Up to half of the funds may be used to provide an annual, county-wide family Christmas party. The balance of the funds are used to purchase children's clothing and meet other emergency family needs to ensure the child's continued participation in Head Start.
Other Anonymous Nonmonetary Donations . . . A Local Business donates coats and other winter apparel for Head Start children, averaging 30 children served each year. A Charitable Organization donates shoes for Head Start children, averaging 50 children served each year. Individual Donors adopt most-in need families and provide clothes and gifts at Christmas.
Program Review
During October 2011, a federal level, Triennial Audit was conducted. The comprehensive audit reviewed not only Carter County Head Start but the local Head Start Grantee, Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency. Carter County Head Start earned a positive evaluation with "no findings / no deficiencies". In addition to the federal review, an in-depth audit by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury was conducted; in PY 2012 as in every year prior, Carter County Head Start earned a clean audit resulting in "no findings". An indepth Self Assessment was also completed using the Head Start program assessment model. No deficiencies were found.
Enrollment ~ Demographics
Funded Slots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Number of Children Served / Number of Families . . . 173/ 168
Percent Income Eligible . . . . . . . 93% i.e. family yearly income below poverty level guidelines
Average Monthly Enrollment . . . . 99.9% May is the only month during the PY in which enrollment fell below 100%.
Enrollment by Age. . . . . . . . . . 4 Yrs Old - 143 . . . . 3 Yrs Old - 30
Children Enrolled for Second Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Family Information:
| Of 168 familes: | Two Parent Households | Single Parent Households |
| Parent Type | 104 | 64 |
| Number with at least one parent working: | 83 | 29 |
| Number w/at least 1 parent in job trng. or school: | 14 | 5 |
Children's Services
Head Start services are provided in eight classrooms in the following seven elementary schools located across Carter County: Central, Cloudland, Hampton (2 classes), Happy Valley, Hunter, Keenburg, and Valley Forge. Each classroom is fully equipped with interesting and engaging age appropriate materials and learning resources.
All Carter County Head Start teachers meet or exceed Highly Qualified requirements; five of the eight teachers hold a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Development, three hold a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Development. Each center also has one full time Teacher's Assistant. Five of the assistants hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, one assistant is working toward aCDA, one is working toward a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Development, and one holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Development. At all levels, Carter County's staff exceed the new 2013 staffing requirements imposed by Head Start.
All centers utilize Creative Curriculum, an early childhood program that emphasizes a "child-focused" learning environment tied specifically to the Tennessee Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework. Based on the LAP-D assessment administered at program start, an individualized plan is developed for each child. Each child is also evaluated at the program mid-point to assess their progress and also at the program end. At each point staff meets with parents and provide them a detailed account of their child's progress.
Child Outcomes Report - Program-wide results, measured by the Learning Accomplishment Profile Diagnostic Assessment instrument (LAP-D), showed substantial gains were achieved in each of the following 10 Head Start learning domains. An eleventh learning domain, *English Language Development measures a non-English speaking child's growth in language use and comprehension. The following table depicts this year's average improvement by Carter County Head Start children from pre-program assessment to program completion in each learning domain :
| language | +20% |
| literacy | +26% |
| math | +25% |
| science | +29% |
| creative arts | +30% |
| social/emotional development | +18% |
| approaches to learning | +22% |
| physical health and development | +16% |
| logic and reasoning | +23% |
| social studies | +24% |
| *english language development | +25% |
Transition Activities - Preparation for transition to Head Start begins at the time of entry into the program. Center staff schedule home visits with each enrolling family and conduct an in-center Parent Orientation. During the introductory phase, each family receives a Parent Handbook which outlines general program information, program policies and procedures, staff and parent responsibilities, as well as describing available program services. Teaching staff provide an emotional climate that communicates warm acceptance and caring for the individual child and family.
Another important transition occurs at program's end. During the final six to eight weeks teachers conduct the final LAP-D assessment on each child. The LAP-D profile transfers into each child's permanent record and continues with the child throughout their school experience. A final home visit is made to review with parents the child's school readiness with special emphasis on health related issues. Also during this final phase, parent teacher conferences are conducted during which the child's status is discussed with special emphasis on social and cognitive development. The third component of the end of program transition is the final center parent meeting during which parents along with Head Start staff meet with kindergarten teachers to introduce key components of the kindergarten program.
Health Services - Head Start places significant emphasis on each child's overall health. A comprehensive health history is completed for each child based on a physical exam plus screenings in the following areas: blood pressure, height to weight ratio, hearing, vision, language development, speech, and blood lead levels. Each child's social and emotional development are evaluated as well as cognitive development. Equally important is the continuation of healthy practises. Families are encouraged and assisted in obtaining both health care services and acquiring health insurance coverage. A snapshot of health related services during PY 2011 - 2012 follows:
100% of the children who were diagnosed with a chronic condition needing medical treatment received treatment during the program year.
99% of the children were up to date or had received all possible immunizations appropriate for their age group by program completion.
At program end, 96% of the children had arrangements with a dentist for continuous dental care; this was up from 91% of the children with a dentist at program start.
100% of enrolled children received preventive dental care; 39 children received dental treatment while in the program.
99% of enrolled children were covered by some type health insurance at program start and were still covered at program end.
100% of the children determined to be in need of special education services received those services during the year.
Family Services
Providing support services to the entire family is a unique feature of Head Start. The goal is to support Head Start parents and help them strengthen their families. To that end, Head Start parents are given every opportunity to participate at all levels of the program including participation in program planning and oversight. Parents also have opportunities to participate in both center level and county-wide training programs. Further, parents are encouraged to observe their child in the Head Start center and as often as possible volunteer to work in their child's classroom. During the year, 182 parents or other family members donated 2,531 hours to the program as classroom volunteers.
During the months of October and March, special emphasis is given to encourage dad/male volunteering. This year, 56 men volunteered in a Head Start classroom interacting with the children and helping to maintain classrooms as well as playgrounds and other areas around the Head Start centers.
Parent Education Activities - At program start a Family Needs Assessment is completed to identify family goals for the year. As part of this process families indicate training interest areas. Utilizing the center meetings, county-wide workshops, and a DVD library located in each center, families have a variety of opportunities to obtain the information or training they request. During the 11-12 program year, 162 families participated in at least one parent training activity.
Emergency/Crisis Services - During the program year 107 families reported an urgent need for assistance in obtaining food, clothing, or shelter; in each case, assistance was provided.
