Our goal: To support staff in connecting children and families with community services
Community Partnership Directory
We establish and maintain a document that includes a list of all partner agencies, a description of what each agency does, primary contact names, Head Start contact names, and how this agency impacts Head Start (in other words - what do they do for us and/or what do we do for them?) The purpose of this directory is to facilitate communication to and from community agencies and to have a global view of Head Start partnerships in order to assess what additional community partnerships would be beneficial to Head Start children and families.
The Meeting Hub
We establish and maintain a database that tracks staff participation in community meetings and advisory committees. Head Start director and managers can access this database as necessary to assess the need to add or reduce participation in various community groups.
Community Partnerships Services to Field Staff
We provide assistance to family service workers, who request assistance in developing a neighborhood directory, provide staff with information about community resources and events, and assist staff in developing individual site community partnerships. Our goal is to recognize the community partnerships field staff have developed and to document that work in a systematic way.
Recognition of Community Partners
We provide timely thank you letters, certificates, and awards to community members/agencies that provide services to Head Start children, families, and staff. Our goal is to have a Head Start Community Awards Luncheon, sponsored by local businesses, which recognizes Head Start Community Partners.
Community Events
We participate in various key community events throughout the year in order to increase the Head Start presence in the community.
Community Volunteers
We use a variety of strategies to reach out to employees of local businesses, community agencies, retired persons, and other community members to encourage business, community, and individual participation in the Head Start program. For more information call: (916) 263-3804.
Transition Services
We provide transition resources, training, information and support to field staff and parents to help children and families with transitions in and out of the Head Start/Early Head Start program.
Community Partnerships Advisory Committee (CPAC)
We continue to convene parents, staff, and community agencies twice each year in order to facilitate community collaboration and to link community resources to Head Start division children and families. Although we meet as a group twice a year, we collaborate on an ongoing, as-needed basis.
