Search Results: MCH Organizations

Annotation: The U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) administers programs focusing on the well-being of children and the self-sufficiency of families. Some services at ACF include programs involving persons with developmental disabilities, child care, child welfare services, prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect, runaway and homeless youth, Head Start, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and child support enforcement issues. ACF also supports an Healthy Marriage Initiative which focuses on low-income married couples with children, the Fatherhood Initiative, and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Program. ACF provides consumers with referrals, publications, and reference information. Some materials are available in Spanish. The agency also publishes newsletters, and sponsors conferences and training seminars.

Keywords: Child abuse, Child care, Child support, Domestic violence, Family centered care, Family economics, Family relations, Family support programs, Fathers, Head Start, Spanish language materials, Training materials, Young children

Annotation: The American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Research Center (AIANHSRC) operationalizes and implements a research and training agenda for American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start and Early Head Start Programs. The center addresses gaps in knowledge relevant to early childhood intervention in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities through implementation of the following objectives: (1) to establish an infrastructure for addressing the needs of AI/AN and Head Start (HS) research; (2) to facilitate the conduct of research that will address the needs of AI/AN communities, their HS programs, and university-based researchers; and (3) to develop the capacity for future research in AI/AN HS.

Keywords: American Indians, Head Start, Alaska natives, Early intervention, Research, Young children

Annotation: The Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (CECMHC) was funded as an Innovation and Improvement Project by the Office of Head Start in October 2008. The 3-year grant brings together a group of university researchers to develop strategies to help Head Start programs build a strong mental health foundation for their children, families and staff. The site provides materials for Healthy Start staff and for families.

Keywords: Child mental health, Federal programs, Head Start, Parenting

Annotation: The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning is a five-year project designed to strengthen the capacity of child care and Head Start programs to improve the social and emotional outcomes of young children. Funded by Head Start and the Child Care Bureau in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the center will develop training and technical assistance (T/TA) materials that reflect evidence-based practices for promoting children's social and emotional development and preventing challenging behaviors. The center will then work with professional organizations and Head Start and child care T/TA providers to ensure the use of the evidence-based practices in local demonstration sites.

Keywords: Child care, Child development, Child health, Children, Early childhood education, Head Start, Mental health, Nuvee, Prevention programs, Program improvement, Technical assistance, Training

Annotation: Choosy Kids offers training and educational materials for health professionals, teachers, and parents to help young children develop healthy behaviors. Topics include obesity, oral health, nutrition, and physical activity. The site also provides news, information about events, links to resources by topic and by audience such as Head Start and WIC programs, and tools for submitting and sharing resources with others.

Keywords: Audiovisual materials, Child health, Consumer education matrerials, DVDs, Head Start, Health behavior, Health promotion, Nutrition, Physical activity, Resources for professionals, WIC Program

Annotation: The Early Head Start National Resource Center (EHS NRC) provides expertise, materials, resources, information, training, and technical assistance to Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs, technical assistance providers, and federal staff in all work related to services for infants, toddlers, pregnant women, and families. EHS NRC provides professional development and technical assistance supports such as the annual Birth to Three Institute and national orientation conference, special initiatives, audio-conferences, online lessons, data analysis, and leadership seminars. EHS NRC also facilitates networks and forums such as listservs and work groups, and develops resources such as technical assistance papers, tip sheets, webinars and webcasts, an electronic newsletter, podcasts, research briefs, e-mail digests, and white papers.

Keywords: Child health, Child care, Child development services, Early childhood education, Head Start, Low income groups, Nuvee, Resource centers, Training

Annotation: The East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (ECMHSP) is a private, non-profit agency that provides continuity of Head Start services to children of migrant farm workers on the east coast of the United States. ECMHSP serves children from birth to age 5 whose families quality based on the federal poverty income guidelines and the federal definitions of migrant and seasonal farm workers. ECMHSP prepares young children for educational success -- especially children of migrant and seasonal farm workers -- by providing holistic, high quality early childhood services for families in a nurturing, culturally sensitive environment.

Keywords: Young children, Head Start, Health services, Migrants

Annotation: Educational Opportunities for Children & Families (EOCF) has been serving the southwest community of Washington state since 1967, when it was formed as a Community Action Agency to fight the War on Poverty. EOCF provides services to more than 2,000 low-income children and families in four southwest Washington counties through programs as Head Start, Early Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). EOCF offers a wide range of critical services to low-income children and families, including early childhood education; comprehensive health, mental health, nutrition, and disabilities; physical and developmental assessments; and support to families through case management, training and parent education. Translators are available for Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Keywords: Community health services, Child health services, Early childhood development, Family support services, Head Start, Low income groups, Screening, Washington

Annotation: Free To Grow is a national demonstration program aimed at strengthening Head Start's organizational capacity and local partnerships to implement integrated family and community strengthening strategies to reduce young children's vulnerability to substance abuse, child abuse and other destructive behaviors. Free to Grow works to identify the best ideas and practices in the field of prevention in general, and substance abuse and child abuse prevention in particular, and apply them to improve the overall environment of young children. There are fifteen Free To Grow sites across the country. These sites work in collaboration with local funding and program partners, including school systems, law enforcement, and substance abuse and mental health treatment programs. Funded by a partnership of foundations and government agencies, the program operates out of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. The Web site provides an electronic newsletter and information about strategies and resources of use to families and professionals.

Keywords: Child abuse, Community programs, Head Start, National initiatives, Prevention programs, Substance abuse

Annotation: The Indian Health Service (IHS) Head Start Program promotes health activities that are proven to improve health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native Early Head Start and Head Start grantees, centers, staff, children, and communities by reducing the risks of chronic disease. Specific goals include the following: (1) to support the Office of Head Start and the health objectives and performance standard requirements; (2) to assist grantees in the development of health programs for children, family, staff, and community; (3) to develop programs that promote health lifestyle activities; and (4) to assist Head Start grantees in developing local and community partnerships. The Web site features a section specifically devoted to Head Start providers and another to Head Start families; information about the program's mission and focus areas (health priorities, challenges, and trends); resources and links; and contacts. A search tool provides access to information about specific IHS Head Start programs.

Keywords: Alaska Natives, American Indians, Early intervention, Federal programs, Head Start, Health promotion, Program development, Young children

Keywords: State organizations, Head Start, Massachusetts, Professional societies, Young children

Annotation: The National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (ECDTL) supports meaningful learning for children and the early educators who support them. The center is funded and guided by the U.S. Office of Head Start and the U.S. Office of Child Care to promote excellence across all ECE programs by offering resources, building program capacity, and encouraging consistent practices.

Keywords: Early childhood education, Head Start, Learning, Resource centers, Resources for professionals, Teaching, Technical assistance, Young children

Annotation: The National Center on Health (NCECHW) provides resources, training, and technical assistance to the child care and Head Start communities on health-related topics (e.g., health literacy, physical health, mental health, nutrition, oral health, and injury and tobacco prevention). NCECHW is funded by the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Head Start and Office of Child Care in partnership with the Health Resource and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Keywords: Collaboration, Community health services, Early Head Start, Early childhood education, Families, Head Start, Mental health, Model programs, Pregnant women, Resource centers, Young children

Annotation: The National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement identifies, develops, and disseminates evidence-based best practices associated with the development of young children and the strengthening of families and communities. The Center creates culturally and linguistically relevant training and tools for implementing comprehensive, systemic, and integrated approaches to parent, family, and community engagement in Head Start and Early Head Start. It is one of six national centers funded by the U.S. Office of Head Start.

Keywords: Collaboration, Early Head Start, Early childhood education, Families, Head Start, Resource centers, Young children

Annotation: The National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations contributes to positive outcomes for young children and their families by strengthening the management and practices of Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The Center focuses on the elements of managing successful agencies and will offer information, training, and resources. Center staff members are committed to identifying best practices, sharing current and emerging research, and serving as a vehicle for communication on management and finance topics for the Head Start community. It is one of six national centers funded by the U.S. Office of Head Start.

Keywords: Collaboration, Early Head Start, Early childhood education, Families, Head Start, Program management, Resource centers, Young children

Annotation: The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is a private, nonprofit membership organization of parents, staff members, directors, and representatives from each of the 12 federal regions. The association represents 750,00 children, 139,000 staff members, and more than 2,050 Head Start programs. Services to consumers include referrals, publications, and reference information. NHSA publishes a catalog, newsletter, and journal and sponsors conferences and training seminars. The Association also advocates policies. Some materials are available in Spanish.

Keywords: Child care, Child health, Early childhood education, Head Start, Nuvee

Annotation: The National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association addresses issues and concerns unique to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start children and their families and advocates for and supports quality services for migrant and seasonal farm worker children and their families.

Keywords: Young children, Access to health care, Head Start, MIgrant health programs, Migrants

Annotation: The Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC), which is maintained by the U.S. Office of Head Start, is designed to help meet the needs of the early childhood community, including program providers, administrators, and families. The Web site provides information that supports parents' involvement in their children's lives; resources and information related to services for young children from birth to age five; policy information and program management tools; educational support materials; and directories containing contact and additional resource information. The Web site can be viewed in both English and Spanish.

Keywords: Child development services, Early Head Start, Early childhood education, Head Start, Resource centers

Annotation: Rocky Mountain Service, Employment, Redevelopment (RMSER) provides employment, training, and educational opportunities to lower income and otherwise disadvantaged populations in Colorado. RMSER provides direct services in 54 of Colorado's 64 counties via government grants, corporate, and public support, serving more than 3,000 people annually through its Head Start, workforce development, migrant farm workers, and youth and community programs. News and event information are also available from the website.

Keywords: Head Start

Annotation: SIUC Head Start is a program operated by Southern Illinois University Carbondale on a federal grant. The program is designed to serve children three to five years of age from families qualifying for Head Start throughout Jackson and Williamson Counties. Head Start helps all children succeed by providing a comprehensive program that provides children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally and physically.

Keywords: Child development, Head Start, Illinois, Young children