Delegates and Partners

• Head Start Preschool hosted two Dad’s Day events in the spring that were well attended.  Everyone was welcome to participate in the events, but these were specifically designed to promote father involvement in the program.
• Sacramento City USD Head Start would like to acknowledge The Center for Fathers and Families for helping the program develop partnerships with families, building and strengthening their parenting skills, and increasing access to resources.

PARENT AND STAFF SPOTLIGHT

• One EHS parent shared that the program has made a huge difference for her family because she could now work more hours without worrying about who would watch her kids.

May Song, Data Information Technician, Ella Yang, Child Development Program Technician, and Dawn Weymouth, Child Development Specialist I have been outstanding in their work ethic and tremendous support in getting the Early Head Start program open in 2023-2024. There was much behind-the-scenes work that needed to be completed before classes could open, without their contributions Sacramento City USD would not have been able to open its infant-toddler classrooms in June 2024.

• San Juan USD brought back the Kickin’it with Dads event and there was a great turnout with many families participating. The Head Start and Early Head Start programs were highlighted on San Juan Unified USD’s Instagram and Facebook accounts four times during the 2023-2024 year.
• The Early Childhood Education (ECE) department continues to increase Head Start and Early Head Start awareness in the community with its partnerships with the Equity Department to work with ECE staff on developing their equity lens to target and eliminate barriers, and with the Communications Department to help make Head Start more visible in the district.   ECE also collaborates with the Special Education Department for professional development.

PARENT AND STAFF SPOTLIGHT

• Many of the Early Head staff are past parents who were encouraged to pursue their educational careers. At the recent staff retreat, many spoke about their experiences. One of the current EHS teachers, a former parent shared that her son (who attended EHS and HS) recently graduated from Columbia University and is currently applying to medical schools in the country.
• TheERSEA administrator and ERSEA teamhave been going above and beyond in building relationships with families and community partners and working hard to recruit to ensure full enrollment in the program.

• Twin Rivers USD Early Childhood Education (ECE) had a Multicultural Fair participated by over 20 community agencies, and featured multicultural performances, cultural activities for families, and cultural food tastings. Families actively engaged in the event by decorating cutouts emblematic of cultural attire to share their heritage. These were displayed and adorned the Morey Avenue campus where the event was held. The families came to the event in their cultural attires This celebration fostered community engagement and honored diversity, promoting a culturally responsive environment and building positive connections between families, staff, and the broader community.

• Twin Rivers USD Early Childhood Education (ECE) had a Multicultural Fair participated by over 20 community agencies, and featured multicultural performances, cultural activities for families, and cultural food tastings. Families actively engaged in the event by decorating cutouts emblematic of cultural attire to share their heritage. These were displayed and adorned the Morey Avenue campus where the event was held. The families came to the event in their cultural attires This celebration fostered community engagement and honored diversity, promoting a culturally responsive environment and building positive connections between families, staff, and the broader community.

• The Ruby Bridges Walk to School event was a successful initiative in 2023-24. The event teaches children about the Civil Rights movement and how they can make a difference in their communities. Twin Rivers USD wrote and received a grant to support the program. During the event, children participated in a march and received bags with treats, banners, and flags funded by the grant.
• Carrington Dental College students provided engaging dental education and conducted dental screenings for the children. They enhanced the students’ learning experience by performing puppet shows, reading books, and demonstrating dental hygiene routines, making the information accessible and enjoyable for the children. Their interactive approach supported the children’s understanding of oral health in a fun and engaging manner.

PARENT AND STAFF SPOTLIGHT

• One grandmother expressed her appreciation for the support she has received with the program’s comprehensive services, highlighting the positive impact on her family. Twin Rivers USD Head Start’s Health Assistant Gloria Flemons went above and beyond by helping a grandmother who has custody of two grandchildren—one in Early Head Start and the other in Head Start—to secure a job within the school district. This support demonstrated the strength of our community resources and recognized the grandmother’s capabilities and commitment to her family

• WCIC actively participated in key community events in the Oak Park community by setting up informational booths at the St. Hope Back to School and the La Familia Counseling Center Mercado Miercoles events. Program staff were also at the Tahoe Park Food Truck Event, Oak Park Trailblazers and Family Day, and local farmers markets.  They distributed flyers and gave away notebooks, crayons, and markers to families who visited WCIC’s table. This traditional face-to-face approach was more personal and it engaged community members, allowing them to meet program staff.
• WCIC’s Head Start Programs benefited greatly from its continued collaboration with the Center for Oral Health (COH) through the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This partnership allowed them to provide essential dental screening services, timely dental check-ups, and treatments to keep children’s teeth and gums healthy. COH has also provided families with important information about dental care resources in the community.

PARENT AND STAFF SPOTLIGHT

•  Destiney Abila’s family shared how much Head Start made a difference for them. Ms. Abila’s family began their journey with WCIC when she was an unemployed single parent with two children. She was actively involved in the Policy Committee, serving as the Chairperson and eventually joining the WCIC Board while volunteering in the classroom. Through Ms. Abila’s dedication and hard work, she landed a full-time job and now holds a managerial position. Despite challenges, Ms. Abila has accomplished professional achievements, and remained devoted to her family, including caring for her grandmother.

• Aeshea Usher, Program Assistant consistently goes above and beyond in supporting classroom activities. She is a past Head Start parent in the program and is currently enrolled in a community college to obtain an Early Childhood Education degree. Her keen attentiveness to children and willingness to contribute wherever help is needed truly sets her apart. Ms. Aeshea’s proactive approach and amazing support greatly enhance the learning environment in the classroom and ensure that every child receives the attention and care they need.

• Edenausegboye Davis, Executive Director/Head Start Director embodies a spirit of dedication and compassion that goes above and beyond. She has led the community-based program for decades and built a sense of family within the organization. Ms. Davis’ genuine care and commitment have fostered a supportive and nurturing environment where every team member feels valued and connected.

One of SCOE Early Head Start’s most successful family engagement activities centered around nutrition. After discussing how to support healthy eating at home, children and families helped each other prepare a healthy dish. The event ended with everyone sampling the dishes family style. Families received a healthy eating placemat, a divided toddler plate to help promote nutritious, balanced meals, and some healthy family recipes to try at home.

A few EHS families were adopted by various SCOE departments and received individually wrapped gifts from their wish lists. The families were so appreciative of the SCOE employees’ generosity.

 
PROGRAM STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Michelle Oswalt Saldana is a home visitor in SCOE Early Head Start. She has given 110% to the program and to the EHS families.  She connected with school districts to understand the transition process in receiving early intervention/ special education services through the school districts and supported families with an Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP).

Nancy Padilla is a program analyst with SCOE Early Head Start and has supported the program in fiscal services. She kept the program on task with its spending plan and is recognized by her colleagues as an excellent thought partner.

• In 2023-2024, River Oak Early Head Start focused on increasing family engagement and fostering parent-to-parent connections during socialization events. During socialization, there was an emphasis on encouraging families to build connections with each other by incorporating activities that promoted interactions with each other and discovering similar interests. By building these connections, staff observed an increase in attendance and families shared that they were creating playdates with each other.
• River Oak EHS strengthened its relationship with Black Mothers United. The program supported enrolled pregnant moms with prenatal education, labor support, and access to resources for birth delivery and newborn supplies. River Oak also received referrals for Early Head Start services from them.

PARENT AND STAFF SPOTLIGHT

• An EHS family presented their success story to the River Oak Board of Directors. They shared about the support they have received while navigating the special education services for three of their children. They also highlighted the community they have built through attending socializations.
• The entire River Oak EHS team has excelled and worked above and beyond this last program year. Despite being understaffed, the team has kept enrollment higher than expected (carrying more than 12 children at times). They were eager to welcome new staff and generously offered support to make them feel successful. Staff also worked successfully in helping families obtain health screenings for their children from their medical providers as reflected in the increased health services reports submitted to SETA.