Childcare Learning Centers

Head Start/Early Head Start

2008-2009 Annual Report

Childcare Learning Centers Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) is a child development program serving children residing in the towns of Stamford , Darien and Greenwich . The HS/EHS program provides high quality early childhood comprehensive services to children, ages 0 to 5. The program assists families in setting and attaining goals for themselves and their children. The following reflects the program's funded enrollment, funding sources and activities during the fiscal year 2008-2009.

• Funded enrollment:     Head Start         Early Head Start                        Delegate

                                                      213                      60                                                34

• Funding sources:

Federal

                                    Head Start                     Early Head Start                        Delegate  

                          $1,577,036                   $874,022                                  $223,319

ARRA              $27,701                        $15,237                                    $3987

QI                     $87,348                        $32,425                                    $6,000

PI                     $12,000                        $35,000                                    $4,903

State Department of Education

$184,277 for an Enhancement Grant which provided full-day, school-year services for 35 Head Start children and 34 Delegate children.

$148,657 for an Expansion Grant which provided full-day full-year services for 20 State Head Start children.

$30,875 for a Link Grant to support math and literacy enrichment.

$21,375 for Link Grant for the delegate.

$6,652 for Head Start Services

Private             $75,000 from Pitney Bowes for extended day services.

The Head Start program received approximately $313,236 in State Department of Education School Readiness funds to extend 10 part-day, part-year classes into full-day, full-year classes.  

• Financial expenditures:   In FY 2008-09 it cost $3,144,948 to operate the Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The single largest expense item was salaries and fringe benefits which accounted for 72% of the program costs.   The next largest item was the delegate sub-contract $306,833 which represented 9.8% of the total expenditures. An extension was requested for the Early Head Start One-Time Fund and $2,555 of the Head Start One-Time Fund was unspent.

CLC prepares an annual budget each spring with input from the Head Start Director and the Board of Directors. Monthly variance reports are reviewed by the Head Start Director.   In addition, monthly variance reports and budget projections are presented to the Finance Committee of the Board and Policy Council on a monthly basis.   Financial decisions are based on the organization's long-term goals and objectives.   This rigorous oversight of the financial records has provided the agency with a strong understanding of its financial position and allowed it to adapt, where necessary, in order to ensure a fiscally sound future.

• The program served 275 children in Head Start which included 41 children from the delegate, 102 children and 1 pregnant woman in Early Head Start during the fiscal year of 2008-2009. The average monthly enrollment was 100% for Head Start and 99% for Early Head Start.
• One hundred-percent of Head Start and Early Head Start children received medical exams and 91% of Head Start and 86% of Early Head Start children received dental exams. The program coordinated services for 29 children suspected with disabilities in Head Start and 15 children in Early Head Start.
• One hundred and forty one children entered kindergarten. Child Outcomes results using the Creative Curriculum Continuum assessment showed that in the spring of 2009, sixty six percent of the children ages 4 and 5 mastered skills in the area of   Book Knowledge and Appreciation, 62% in Language Development, and 56%   in Mathematics. The teachers provided enrichment activities targeting children entering kindergarten. The program implemented its Transition plan to assist the parents whose children were entering kindergarten.
• The program provided many parent involvement activities such as Diversity Week, Fitness, Math and Kindergarten Nights, Parent education programs on child development, child health and nutrition, parent's rights and stress management. The program offered other opportunities such as literacy training and continuing education, opportunities for volunteering and involvement in the decisions-making of the program i.e. policy council.
• The HS/EHS program was reviewed by the Office of Head Start in the spring of 2009. The outcome of the review was extremely positive; only one area of noncompliance was noted. This area was: income verification eligibility forms of 8 children were not signed by a Head Start staff. The area of noncompliance was corrected within 90 days. The program is currently awaiting a follow-up review by the Regional Office of Head Start in January to determine its compliance with all Head Start Performance Standards and applicable laws, regulations, and policy requirements related to income verification.

ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act)

QI (Quality Improvement)

PI (Program Improvement)

Submitted by:

Imelda D-Luc

Head Start Director

Fall 2009