Since 1975, the Region IV Office of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has provided supplemental funding to a network of Head Start programs to support clusters of other local programs as they recruit and serve children with disabilities. Currently, twenty-eight Region IV Head Start programs have been selected to serve in this capacity.

Within each, there is a coordinator who specializes in disability services with the title "Head Start Training and Resource Specialist" (HSTARS).
Since 1975, the HSTARS (formerly known as Specially Funded Coordinators) have helped other Head Start programs in many of the following activities. HSTARS
  • Provide information about disabilities and effective instructional practices
  • Provide training and training materials
  • Facilitate collaboration between Head Start programs and local school systems
  • Serve on local, state, and regional task forces and planning committees
  • Conduct an annual needs assessment survey in coordination with the Region IV QICDS to determine needs for training and technical assistance
  • Identify and contact resource providers in the cluster and determine availability of services to Head Start Programs
  • Provide information regarding IDEA, ADA, and other relevant disability laws
  • Assist cluster programs with valid screening efforts, record keeping, and diagnostic services in order to identify, confirm, and document disabilities
  • Provide assistance to local Disability Services Coordinators in the recruitment of children with disabilities
  • Provide training in the development and implementation of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
  • Assist, upon request, in developing work plans and budgets relating to disability services
  • Assist cluster programs in developing transition plans and other interagency agreements with local education agencies
Contact Information
Alabama

Susan Bradt, HSTARS
St. Clair County Head Start
P.O. Box 641
Pell City, Alabama 35125
(205) 338-9694
dsbradt@pell.net

Angela Brooks, HSTARS
OCAP Head Start
P.O. Box 908
Troy, Alabama 36081
(334) 566-1732
angela-m-brooks@usa.net

 Barbara Waldhour, HSTARS
Elmore/Autauga CAC Head Start
504 Autauga Street - P. O. Box 967
Wetumpka, AL 36092-0967
(334) 567-4745 extension 141
(334) 514-8225 FAX
Email: bwaldhour@eacac.com
Florida

Katherine Rosenthal, HSTARS
Pinellas County Head Start
6698 68th Avenue North, Suite D
Pinellas Park, Florida 33781
(727) 547-5900
hstarsfl3@aol.com

Mary Frank, HSTARS
Palm Beach County Head Start
3323 Belevedere Blvd., 501B
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
(561) 233-1600

Margie Harding, HSTARS
Early Childhood Services Head Start
450 Jenks Avenue
Panama City, Florida 34201
(904) 872-7550 ext. 2258
margieh@ecskids.org

Judith VanTyne, HSTARS
School Board of Alachua County Head Start
3600 NE 15th Street
Gainesville, Florida 32609
(352) 955-6875
vantyneje@aol.com

Georgia

Nance Lowry, HSTARS
Ninth District Opportunity, Inc., Head Start
3127 Vinings Ridge Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
(770) 534-0548
lowryn@hemc.net

Elaine Brown, HSTARS
McIntosh Trail Early Childhood Head Start
565 Recreation Drive
Jackson, Georgia 30233
(770) 775-4293
elaine@mtecdc.org

Melvin Boyd, HSTARS
Savannah-Chatham Area Head Start
618 Anderson, P.O. Box 1353
Savannah, Georgia 31401
(912) 233-0322
Idarien@premierweb.net

Kim Yarbrough, HSTARS
Southwest Georgia CAC Head Start
P.O. Box 3728
Moultrie, Georgia 31776-3728
(229) 985-3610
kyarbrough@swgacac.com
Kentucky

Traci Mansfield, HSTARS
Audubon Area Head Start
P.O. Box 20004
Owensboro, KY 42304-0004
(270) 686-1649
tmansfield@audubon-area.com

Elizabeth Denny, HSTARS
KCEOC Head Start
P.O. Box 490
Barbourville, KY 40906
(606) 546-5057
edenny@kceoc.com

Sandi Mardis, HSTARS
Central Kentucky CAC Head Start
332 Hood Ave.
Lebanon, KY 40033
(270) 692-2136
smardis@C.kyhs.org

Helen Stevens, HSTARS
Northeast Kentucky Head Start
P.O. Box 600
Olive Hill, KY 41164
(606) 286-4443
hstars48@hotmail.com
Mississippi

Monique Corley, HSTARS
Friends of Children of Mississippi, Inc.
4880 McWillie Circle
Jackson, MS 39206-5024
(601) 362-1541

Corene Russell, HSTARS
Pearl River Valley Opportunity Head Start, Inc.
P.O. Box 188
Columbia, MS 39429
(601) 736-9564

Dorothy Green, HSTARS
Yazoo County Action Head Start
735 East Powell Street
Yazoo City, MS 39194
(601) 746-1700
HSTARS@Dixie-net.com

Mary Cathey, HSTARS
Institute of Community Services
P.O. Box 159
Holly Springs, MS 38635
(601) 252-1582

North Carolina

Linda Godwin, HSTARS
Johnston- Lee Head Start
1102 Massey Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-2145

Elizabeth Kluttz, HSTARS
Salisbury-Rowan Head Start
P.O. Box 631
Salisbury, NC 28145-0631
(704) 633-0003
eklutz@salisbury.net

Simone Seitz, HSTARS
Opportunity Corporation of Madison-Buncombe Counties Head Start
25 Gaston Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-2495
simone.seitz@oppcorp.org

Audrey Daniels, HSTARS
Martin County Head Start
P.O. Box 806
Williamston, NC 27892
(252) 792-7141

South Carolina

Angie Starks, HSTARS
S.H.A.R.E. Head Start
652 Rutherford Road
Greenville, SC 29609
(864) 226-0367

Anita Reeves-Leggett, HSTARS
Pee Dee CAA Head Start
P.O. Drawer 12920
Florence, SC 29504-0920
(843) 668-3414
Tennessee

Eleanor McChriston, HSTARS
Northwest Tennessee Head Start
231 South Wilson Street
Dresden, TN 38225
(901) 352-7951

Sherry Hutsell, HSTARS
Chattanooga Human Services Head Start
2302 Ocoee Street
Anondale Center
Chattanooga, TN 37406
(423) 493-9754
hutsell_s@mail.chattanooga.gov

 Nancy Thomas, HSTARS
Knoxville-Knox County Head Start
2400 Piedmont Street
Knoxville, TN 37921-7048
(423) 522-2193
nancykkchs@aol.com

 
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