Why do we Exist?
FEDERAL Purposes
Help build 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 augment Head Start's capacity to be a partner in State initiatives on behalf of children and their families;
Facilitate the involvement of Head Start in State Policies, plans processes and decisions affecting the Head Start target population and other low-income families.
What Do We Do?
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the federal purposes, federal Head Start legislation now requires Collaboration Offices to serve as a resource to local Head Start agencies in their coordination and collaborative efforts. Stronger linkages at the local level can support improvement and quality of early childhood services. Additionally, Collaboration Offices are required to conduct an annual * needs assessment to analyze and address these local agency collaboration and coordination needs.
The other primary change in the Act [Public Law 110-134], Improving Head Start for School Readiness, Dec. 12, 2007] is a new requirement for “the governor of each State” to establish or designate an early childhood education and care advisory council to address issues of collaboration, coordination, alignment, quality and availability of early care and education services. The body designated by Missouri’s Governor is the existing Coordinating Board for Early Childhood . The HSSCO Director is an appointed member.
FEDERAL Priorities:
Education
Professional Development
Health
Children with Disabilities
Welfare
Child Welfare
Homeless Children
Child Care
Family Literacy
Community Services
The support structure for the Collaboration Office includes:
MHSSCO Advisory Council - provides guidance on activities and initiatives
University of Missouri - College of Human Environmental Sciences - Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Center for Family Policy & Research - houses the collaboration Office, provides administrative structure and direct guidance and supervision through a University designated contact
Missouri Head Start Association - an important partner in collecting and disseminating information, and serving as the “voice of Head Start”
The Office of Head Start and Region VII Administration for Children and Families - provides funding and guidance
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - DESE is the grantee (contracting with the University) and provides a State contact for administrative oversight
Missouri Department of Social Services, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services provides funding to match the federal grant
WHERE ARE WE? How to find us:
Collaboration Offices may be found in human services agencies, child care resource and referral agencies, public universities, departments of education, governor’s policy research offices, etc. Regardless of the “where,” all Collaboration Offices are charged to assist states in the development of collaborative early childhood initiatives and mechanisms to link Head Start programs with state systems and efforts on behalf of all children and families living in poverty or economic disadvantage.
The Missouri Head Start-State Collaboration Office is housed in the Center For Family Policy & Research at the University of Missouri. http://mucenter.missouri.edu/home.htm