FHSA empathizes with our Head Start families across Florida impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. We understand these are challenging times, but we are inspired by your resilience and are committed to learning how we can best support you in your recovery efforts. 

To that end, we have compiled a list of resources below to help those affected by the hurricanes: 

Hope Florida Assistance
Active Hope helps connect Floridians with outside resources to provide food, household goods, home repairs, and more.
Click here to complete the Request Help form 

Food Bank Distribution Sites
Feeding Florida's statewide network of food banks, throughout 67 counties in the state, have water, MREs, and food available for free to assist those who have been affected by the storm.
Click here to find your local food bank 

Fresh Access Bucks Assistance
For families using SNAP or D-SNAP benefits, participating Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) locations will match every $1 spent in SNAP with $1 in FAB. This can be used for free Florida-grown fruits and vegetables, with no sign-up required.  
Click here to locate a FAB site near you 

Temporary Housing Assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering assistance for temporary housing, lodging reimbursements, rental assistance, and home repair for eligible individuals and families.
Click here to apply for FEMA's temporary housing assistance

DCF Resources
The Department of Children and Families has created a one-page guide with information on replacing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, using SNAP EBT to buy hot food items in specific Florida counties, and accessing other disaster relief resources.
Click here to view DCF Resources

FDEM Assistance
The Florida Department of Emergency Management is here to assist you and your community in your relief and recovery by providing resources for locating fuel distribution sites, shelter transportation assistance, SNAP food replacement, and local recovery resources.
Click here to view FDEM Assistance Resources

October is not just any month, it's Head Start Awareness Month! This is a time for us to come together, celebrate our achievements, and raise awareness about the importance of the Head Start program. 

Every October, the Head Start community celebrates its rich, six-decade history, having served nearly 40 million children and their families. Founded to ensure disadvantaged families have access to emotional, social, health, and educational support, Head Start's mission continues to uplift communities and empower brighter futures. 

Today, Head Start remains dedicated to helping income-eligible families with children from birth to age 5 thrive. The program supports parents as their child's first teacher, providing resources like immunizations, dental care, and early screenings. 

As we celebrate Head Start Awareness Month, we encourage you to join in by sharing the celebration on your social media channels and tagging us. Together, we can highlight the incredible impact Head Start continues to have.

The FHSA Annual Conference & Expo will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando on December 10 - 13, 2024! 

We're pleased to confirm that our keynote speaker, Freddie Stevenson, will be joining us, and if you were previously registered, your spot is secure as well.

In the coming weeks, FHSA will reconfirm speakers, exhibitors, and registered attendees to ensure they can attend the new conference dates. 

Further details will be shared via email as they are available.

The hotel room block at the Doubletree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando is open. The deadline to reserve your hotel accommodations is Tuesday, November 19, 2024. 

The group discounted rate is $159 per night++. 

Please note that overnight and event day self-parking is discounted to $15 plus tax per day.

The FHSA Annual Conference is only affordable because of the generous sponsors who make this event an amazing experience for all attendees. The conference would be nearly three times as expensive without their generous support. Please show these Sponsors ♥ by thanking them and contacting them when you need any of their services.

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with The Academy at the National Head Start Association (NHSA). This collaboration will bring unique benefits to our Head Start and Early Head Start programs, including high-quality, synchronous, and hybrid online professional development opportunities. 

This partnership is not just a win for FHSA but for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. It will make high-quality professional development not only accessible and attainable, but also affordable. A portion of the revenue generated from our programs in Florida will be reinvested in FHSA, allowing us to provide our members with enhanced support, strengthen resources, and further our advocacy efforts. 

We are genuinely excited about this partnership and hope you share our enthusiasm! We invite you to explore all the professional development opportunities offered to enhance your staff training and develop your entire team, regardless of experience.

During October, OHS will focus on child health and safety related to the updated Head Start Program Performance Standards.

Click here to watch a video message from Director Khari M. Garvin regarding these crucial changes:

• Increasing a program’s capacity to promote child health and safety
• Clarifying important changes to requirements in the Standards of Conduct
• Reporting incidents to OHS

To access a collection of resources and gain insight into the updates to the HSPPS and their implementation, please click here.

NHSA SURVEY: NHSA is seeking input from the Head Start community to evaluate the current political landscape, assess their goals, and set their path forward for success in the years ahead by revising and updating their Policy Agenda. The Policy Agenda is the backbone of NHSA’s legislative and regulatory strategy, reauthorization work, and policy focuses. Your participation in this critical process by completing their survey and sharing your thoughts by October 28, 2024, will directly contribute to shaping the future of the Head Start community, as the survey results will guide NHSA policy decisions and advocacy efforts.

NHSA Parent and Family Engagement Conference December 16-19, 2024 

Join NHSA in San Diego, CA, for their annual Parent and Family Engagement Conference. This year’s sessions are designed to inspire, empower, and equip attendees with practical strategies to strengthen their teams, improve communication, and foster meaningful engagement with families.

Information Updates 

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Important Upcoming Events

FHSA EVENTS

FHSA Directors Affiliate Group Monthly Check-In

November 5, 2024
Virtual
Click here for info

FHSA Directors Affiliate Group Monthly Check-In

December 3, 2024
Virtual
Click here for info

FHSA Annual Conference

December 10 - 13, 2024
Orlando, FL
Click here for info

 STATE TRAININGS or EVENTS

Part II: Recently Arriving Families, Core Stressors, and the Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health

October 30, 2024
Virtual
Click here for info

NATIONAL TRAININGS or EVENTS

Descripción general sobre la credencial de Asociado en

October 21, 2024
Virtual
Click here for info

Updates on Managing Infectious Diseases

October 24, 2024
Virtual
Click here for info

Developmentally Appropriate Procedures for Emergency Preparedness

October 30, 2024
Virtual
Click here for info

You Thrive Florida Learning Programs, serving Early Head Start and Head Start students in Volusia, Hernando, and Sumter counties, celebrated Safety Week from September 16 - 20, 2024, for children to recognize the people who protect them and know how to stay safe. Local firefighters, police officers, deputies, and EMTs visited our 18+ schools to teach students and staff important safety lessons. Students also got hands-on experience with the tools used by our local heroes and had the chance to explore emergency vehicles—especially the firetruck, which was a crowd favorite!  

Episcopal Children’s Services (ECS), a leader in early childhood education in the state of Florida, announced the unveiling of its new logo and name as part of a comprehensive brand refresh. This update reflects the organization’s growth, vision for the future, and ongoing commitment to serving the needs of children and families in Florida. The brand refresh comes on the heels of new leadership under Dr. Natalya Roby, who stepped into the role of President & CEO earlier this year. Click here to read the press release in its entirety.

The Florida Association for Community Action, Inc. (FACA) announced it has been awarded its first federal grant of $1.2 million 

from the Office of Community Services (OCS). This federal initiative, Diaper Distribution Demonstration & Research Pilot (DDDRP) launched by HHS Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is designed to address the root causes of diaper need and help families achieve economic self-sufficiency through diaper distribution combined with wraparound support services. Click here to read the press release in its entirety.

The Florida Head Start Association dashboard, a practical tool for advocacy, was created to help inform policymakers and other state leaders about the critical role that Head Start programs play in the state and the unmet need for additional funding.

Inviting Congressional Members to your Head Start program is crucial!

With Congress members in their districts until after the election, now is a great time for Head Start programs to connect with their lawmakers by inviting them to visit. Hosting members of Congress is a powerful way to showcase the value of Head Start and raise awareness about teacher shortages and classroom closures due to low wages. Flat funding has reduced access to Head Start, reaching fewer children each year. Now is the time to advocate for reinvestment in both Head Start and the future of our children. 

If you need assistance, please contact FHSA at (850) 694-6477 or email [email protected].

Children's Week is being held April 13 - 18, 2025! 

Children's Week has begun collecting Hand Artwork for the 2025 Celebration of the Hands display in the Capitol Rotunda! 

This powerful visual is the backdrop for the Week and serves as a daily reminder to legislators and Capitol visitors that our children's future is in their hands. All early learning programs, K-12 classrooms, families, colleagues, and all children's advocates are asked to participate in this beautiful tradition. 

The Hand artwork will be part of a statewide effort to deliver the message that every child should be healthy, ready to learn, and able to achieve their full potential.

The FHSA monthly newsletter aims to provide you with important information about the Association, upcoming events, and national industry updates. We encourage you to make sure your information is up-to-date so you don't miss out on important information.

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