Advocacy

The Florida Head Start Association, (FHSA) is dedicated to addressing issues that affect the 41,000 Florida Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant, and Seasonal Head Start children and families.  As a state-wide organization, we work collaboratively with early childhood programs in the State along with Florida's Head Start Collaboration Office, Florida's Office of Early Learning, and the Florida Department of Children and Families. 

FHSA is focused on "telling the story" and showcasing how Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant, and Seasonal Head Start programs in Florida support and enrich the lives of children and families. 

Advocacy efforts also include these activities: 

• Children's Week at the State Capitol in Tallahassee, FL
   
• Supporting programs to invite Legislators and locally elected to their facilities to learn firsthand the impact they make on children and families every day
   
• Educate Federal Legislators in Washington, D.C., on the importance of protecting funding for Head Start 
   
• Supporting the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and their advocacy efforts
  
• Head Start Town Hall Toolkit
• Program Visit Toolkit
• Head Start Bill Tracker 

Get involved! Let your Legislators know how you feel. 

Florida Governor Website

Find our Florida House Representatives here.

Find your Florida Senators here.

The White House

Click here to notify your US Congressperson

Click here to notify your US Senator

Advocacy Tools

In addition to the FHSA Public Policy Agenda, our national and state partners create reports, fact sheets, and policy statements to assist our shared advocacy efforts. Be sure to visit their website for additional information. If you would like assistance with a tool not listed here, please contact the FHSA office at (850) 694-6477 or email [email protected]. 

• Advocacy vs. Lobbying - Legally what can you do?
• ALICE in Focus Report: Children in Florida 
  
• KIDS COUNT Data Center from the Annie E. Casey Foundation
• NIEER: The State of Preschool Yearbook 2023
• NIEER: The State of Preschool Yearbook 2021
• Policy - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
  
• News - Politico
• HHS- Health and Human Services