Contents

 Regional Initiatives, 2001-2002
Project Objectives
 Priority Area Accomplishments
Regional Initiatives, 2001-2002
The Region IV Quality Improvement Center for Disabilities Services (DSQIC) is funded to provide support and assistance to Head Start and Early Head Start grantees in serving children with disabilities and their families. In partnership with our colleagues at the Head Start Quality Improvement Centers and the ACF Regional Office, we are committed to the accomplishment of the regional initiatives of the Southeast Regional Hub in our training and technical assistance activities with Head Start and Early Head Start. The following activities in our 2001 Workplan support the Impacting the Future Initiatives.

Business Management

In the1999-2000 program year, the DSQIC provided training on the Systems Approach to Disability Services to Head Start Directors and Managers. This training addresses Performance Standards requirements and strategies for incorporating disabilities across all service areas and management systems. During 200I, the Systems Approach to Disabilities will focus on working with management teams to implement strategic planning in disabilities and facilitate the development of a vision, mission, goals and outcomes in disabilities services.

Quality Enhancement

Individualizing Activities for Children with Disabilities is the focus of the Back to Basics Initiative. This intensive six-hour on-site training for Head Start teachers supports the development of goals and objectives, based on assessment information and the development of outcomes for children with disabilities. 

Human Resources

Promote professional development through focused training events for Head Start and Early Head Start staff. The following activities are scheduled for the 2001-2002 program years.
  • Special Quest Conference: Training for Early Head Start Teams (July, 2001)
  • Disability Leadership Forums
    (August, 2001/February, 2002) will address:
    (a) Fine Tuning Interpersonal Communication Skills
    (b) Balancing Multiple Responsibilities
    (c) Writing/Developing/Negotiating Cooperative Agreements
    (d) Conflict Resolution
    (e) Developing Budgets
    (f) Increasing Telecommunications Skills
    (g) Networking
  • Inclusion is Everybody's Business: Orientation to Disability Services (September, 2001)
  • Disability Institute (November, 2001)
    Focus on Outcomes for Children with Disabilities, Part Two

Partnerships

Continue to work with state collaboration projects, Head Start Associations, Head Start Training and Resource Specialists (HSTARS), State Education Agencies, Developmental Disability Projects and disability and early intervention networks in each state to facilitate the development of interagency agreements with Head Start and Early Head Start in serving children with disabilities and their families. Copies of the current agreements for services to children with disabilities in Head Start and Early Head Start are included on the web page at www.chtop.com/rappage.htm.

Technology

  • Developed CD-Rom on An Orientation to Disability Services in Head Start and Early Head Start
  • Disabilities Services List Serve
  • Disabilities Services Resource Library Materials On-Line
Project Objectives
  • To establish and maintain a regional system of collaboration and coordination
  • To provide training and technical assistance to Head Start and Early Head Start grantees
  • To maintain and implement a regional disability services resource information system
  • To support the development and implementation of state and local interagency agreements
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the Quality Improvement Center and its activities

Highlights of Priority Area Accomplishments FY 2000
Education/Practice Outcomes Organized an Outcomes Work Group, (September 2000) comprised of Head Start and Early Head Start grantees, QIC Child Development Specialist, regional office and national consultants to develop a training and technical assistance approach which supports Head Start staff to develop strategies for addressing program requirements for child outcomes that include children with disabilities. Based on the group’s recommendations, a training and technical assistance approach, which included an intensive institute on child assessment for managers and training for teachers focused on individualizing activities for children with disabilities, was implemented.
Conducted a Fall Institute (October 2000) for Head Start and Early Head Start Managers to review and develop strategies for including children with disabilities in the child assessment system. In facilitated large and small group sessions, participants reviewed and analyzed their current assessment system to determine strengths and needs; reviewed a process for collecting outcomes data in the eight domains and discussed strategies for including data on children’s accomplishments based on IEP goals and objectives. A self-assessment document, From Assessment to Outcomes, which was developed by the workgroup was presented at the Institute. Grantee workgroup members presented their assessment models and shared lessons learned in their efforts to address outcomes for children with disabilities.
Developed and conducted training for Head Start teachers on Individualizing Activities for Children with Disabilities. The six-hour training is provided on site and includes a pre-training interview with the Disability and Education Managers, trainee self-assessments, follow-up discussion groups, back home assignments and follow-up activities with DSQIC staff. This training is on going and will continue to be implemented in 2001.
Management Systems Implemented a “Common Messages” Initiative with grantees through activities aimed at Head Start directors and management staff. The common message, Inclusion is Everybody’s Business was infused in all technical assistance activities with grantees and reinforced in specific training events sponsored by the DSQIC throughout the year:
  • Training was provided on A Systems Approach to Disability Services at Head Start Association Conferences and with management teams in each state.
  • Conducted an Orientation Conference for new Head Start and Early Head Start Managers, (September 2000) which emphasized the team approach to disability services. Over three and a half days, managers discussed the Performance Standards, their roles and responsibilities in planning and implementing services, developing partnerships, networking and resources.
  • Sponsored a regional conference (April 2000) to address coordination between Disabilities Services and Family Services staff in working with families of children with disabilities. Each year a different service area is selected to discuss requirements, issues, resources and coordination in service delivery. DSQIC, QIC staff, consultants and parents provided training on a variety of topics including family partnership agreements, advocacy, family support, and respite care.
  • Coordinated with Regional Office and Quality Improvement Center staff in preparing management teams for federal review.
Head Start/Early Head Start Partnerships Collaborated with Head Start Associations, Head Start Collaboration Projects, Migrant Head Start, State Departments of Education and Early Intervention Agencies in each state to negotiate memoranda of understanding with Head Start and Early Head Start in serving children with disabilities and their families.  Agreements were signed with the Departments of Education in Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee for services to 3-5 year old children.  Agreements with Early Intervention networks were signed in Alabama and North Carolina to support services to infants and toddlers with disabilities in Early Head Start.  Final drafts of SEA and Early Intervention agreements were negotiated in Florida.
Disseminated copies of signed agreements to Head Start and Early Head Start programs to facilitate the development of local partnership agreements. Worked with Head Start Training and Resource Specialists in each state to provide training and technical assistance in the development of local partnership agreements.
Made copies of state agreements available to Region IV Head Start and Early Head Start and others on-line at www.chtop.com/rappage.htm
Prepared and disseminated a report on Region IV Head Start Services to Children with Disabilities based on data from the Program Information Report. The report highlights several aspects of disability services including enrollment of children with disabilities in each state; number and content of agreements with local education agencies; joint services with other agencies and credentials of disability services staff. Five hundred copies of the report were disseminated to Head Start and Early Head Start grantees, State Education Agency and Early Intervention Coordinators, State Collaboration Projects, other T/TA projects and the regional office.
Regional Initiatives Coordinated the development of agreements between Head Start and Developmental Disabilities networks in Tennessee and North Carolina. his effort is part of a regional initiative to facilitate the inclusion of children with more severe disabilities in Head Start. In Tennessee, a state workgroup, which included Regional Office, DSQIC, State Collaboration Project and the Head Start Association worked with Developmental Disabilities staff to explore a common definition of  ‘severe disabilities’ and to develop strategies for collecting data on the recruitment and enrollment of children with severe disabilities in Head Start as a result of the agreement.
Participated in Regional Leadership Meeting with Regional Office, Head Start Association Presidents, Community Action Agency representatives, State Collaboration Directors and QIC staff to discuss issues and identify regional priorities.
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