HEADSTART Year-End Report | 2020-21 school year
HAPPY TO SEE YOU! Garden City, Kan. -February 2021- KCSL CEO Gail Cozadd is greeted with hugs from Head Start children while visiting one of our early learning centers.
OUR MISSION: to protect and promote the well-being of children
LETTER FROM THE CEO & BOARD CHAIR Dear KCSL Friends and Colleagues, What a year! It was a year of rapid changes pivoting to meet the growing needs of children and families in Kansas. KCSL maneuvered through continuous challenges to the way we do work while ensuring the children, parents, professionals and our employees remained physically safe from the COVID-19 virus, which was the headliner in 2020. The pandemic required us to learn a lot about protecting and promoting the well-being of children remotely. We remained steadfast in our vision that every child is raised in a loving family and lives in a safe, nurturing community. We stayed connected! KCSL’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs utilized Zoom, MeetMe, Skype and Google to connect with families. Our staff delivered weekly activity packets to families’ porches and dropped off gift bags with homemade caps to celebrate Head Start graduates. Staff continued to engage families through the pandemic by delivering tomato plants with directions and support cages; hosted Park Nights with games and activities while maintaining social distancing; and organized regular parent-child bonding activities through Zoom that families could do at home like arts and crafts, therapy projects and fun competitions. We're so proud of all the creative ways staff pivoted to ensure parents were supported and children remained safe. As a nation, we were reminded the struggle with racial injustice continues. Many of the families served through programs at KCSL are racially and ethnically diverse. They experienced further unrest during 2020, and yet once again KCSL was there to support them. We listened to their concerns, fears and frustrations. We committed to helping families gain access to resources despite living in child care, food or health deserts. We helped families continue their education. We helped families become more self-sufficient. We also saw a great division across political views, yet KCSL continued to receive bi-partisan support for the work we do. Our direction and focus to prevent child abuse ensures parents have the support they need now to be successful in order to break cycles of neglect, abuse and trauma. Our programs help both children and parents develop skills for success in their families, schools and workplaces. That is a universal mission. So while 2020 was a year of continuous change, we know stronger families started here because of KCSL's ability to pivot. Thank you for your outpouring support for the children and families we serve as well as our employees. Your kindness during a year that was a strain on everyone has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Sincerely,
Gail Cozadd CEO
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Zachary Schultz Board Chair
2020-21 BACKGROUND Head Start & Early Head Start
LOCATIONS CIMARRON
KCSL served 464 individuals in 10 southwest Kansas counties during our Head Start and Early Head Start program year.
PREGNANT WOMEN |
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464
252
600 N 2nd St. 620-855-3889 GARDEN CITY
CHILD CARE 23 | KANSAS PARTNERSHIP CHILDREN
2 Administration:
2111 E Labrador Blvd. 620-276-3232
EARLY HEAD 62 | KANSAS START CHILDREN
HEAD START | CHILDREN
1 Center-Based:
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4 Center/Home-Based:
603 E Cedar 620-272-9611
5 Center-Based:
4101 E Hwy 50, #531 620-276-4323
6 Center-Based:
4101 E Hwy 50, #620 620-277-7148
TOTAL # OF INDIVIDUALS SERVED
HEAD 119 | EARLY START CHILDREN
7 Center-Based:
121 W Walnut 620-805-1460 HUGOTON
8 Home-Based:
507 S Madison St. 620-544-4334
HOME-BASED
CENTER-BASED
ADMINISTRATION
LEOTI
9 Home-Based:
108 W Broadway 620-375-4933
Jefferson
Leavenworth Wyandotte
Shawnee
Johnson
Leoti
Wichita
9
Osage
Scott
Garden City Ulysses
14 15 Kearny 16 Stanton
Grant
Stevens
Hugoton
Finney
Gray Haskell
Cimarron
Liberal
Seward
Rice
McPherson
2 Pawnee 3 4 5 6 7 Stafford
1
10 11 12 13
Miami
Lyon
Barton Marion
Chase
Sedgwick
Butler
Greenwood
Bourbon
836 S Jordan 620-626-5339
Neosho Crawford
13 Center-Based:
Allen
Wilson
Sumner
Home-Based: 105 E 11th 620-604-5020
12 Center-Based:
Coffey
Harvey
Reno
LIBERAL
10 11 Administration/
MontLabette Cherokee gomery
50 Village Plaza 620-624-9220 ULYSSES
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14 15 Center/Home-Based:
CENTER-BASED PROGRAMING offered in 4 out of 10 counties
HOME-BASED PROGRAMING offered in 10 out of 10 counties
837 N Baughman, Room E 620-424-4320
16 Center-Based:
921 N College 620-356-4180
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2020-21 ENROLLMENT “Pivot. Don’t panic,” -John Acuff
HEAD START
EARLY HEAD START
CENTER & HOME BASED COMBINED ENROLLED # of students
% OF FUNDED ENROLLMENT
August 2020
132
37%
September
177
October
CENTER & HOME BASED COMBINED ENROLLED # of students
% OF FUNDED ENROLLMENT
August 2020
61
72%
50%
September
74
88%
186
53%
October
79
94%
November
187
53%
November
75
89%
December
190
54%
December
76
90%
January 2021
215
61%
January 2021
77
91%
February
223
63%
February
82
97%
March
224
64%
March
85
101%
April
222
63%
April
84
100%
May
219
62%
May
86
102%
June
219
62%
June
83
98%
July
217
62%
July
82
97%
MONTH
MONTH
Our program was originally funded for 350 slots. Due to the pandemic, it was necessary to reduce the number we served to 224 slots. NOTE: In June and July, we only served home-based children for Head Start.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: World’s Finest Chocolate Fundraiser In April 2021, parents and volunteers partnered with River City Fundraising to raise money for KCSL’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs in western Kansas. They sold over 12,000 bars of World’s Finest Chocolate and raised over $18,000! Parents received various prizes such as day passes to the Garden Rapids at the Big Pool in Garden City, gift cards and other fun gifts. Nearly 20 different businesses in Ulysses, Garden City and Dodge City helped parents with chocolate sales to make this first-time fundraising activity a success!
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ENROLLMENT, continued KANSAS EARLY HEAD START Funded by the Kansas Department for Children and Families
ENROLLED # of students
% OF FUNDED ENROLLMENT
August 2020
23
27%
September
30
36%
October
36
43%
November
55
65%
December
54
64%
January 2021
57
68%
February
59
70%
March
60
71%
April
60
71%
May
58
69%
June
54
64%
July
53
63%
MONTH
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: STEVE HARKNESS Meet Steve, one of our newest members and chair of KCSL’s Community Leadership and Development KELSIE & STEVE HARKNESS WITH THEIR Council in DOGS MILO & MYA Garden City. Steve works for Western State Bank. He and his wife, Kelsie got married in June 2020 and have two 100-pound dogs that they love. Steve started volunteering at KCSL last year right as the COVID-19 pandemic hit Kansas. But that didn’t stop him from making a difference in his community. WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER? For me, it’s a way to give back to the community. Even if it’s just something small. HOW WAS VOLUNTEERING DURING THE PANDEMIC? I just joined KCSL’s Community Leadership and Development Council in 2020— that was not a great first year to join something! I was able to join KCSL in helping with the United Way’s Stuff the Bus event in the summer, though. That was the first time I had done anything like that in the community, and it felt good. But I look forward to what I can do to help KCSL in the future. WHY WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOLUNTEER AT KCSL? Try not to think so much about yourself but about the kids and families who need help. It’s important to help people in your community or local town. There are people who are in need that you may even know.
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2020-21 OUTCOMES “A pivot is a change in strategy without a change in vision,” -Eric Ries
CENTER & HOME BASED SERVICES FALL 2020 REPORT
SPRING 2021 REPORT
Average level of Learning Progression* based on age range
8 7 6 5 4 3 2
EARLY HEAD START
ys Pe ica rce l & pt Mo ual, to r So cia lF ou nd ati on s
Ph
ys Pe ica rce l & pt Mo ual, to r So cia lF ou nd ati on Co s gn itio n/ Ma th em ati cs Co gn itio n/ Sc ien ce La ng ua ge & Lit er ac y
Ph
ac er Lit gu
ag
e&
n/ itio gn Co
La n
Co
gn
itio
n/
Ma
th
Sc
em
ien
ati
ce
cs
0
y
1
HEAD START
[Pre-K 3-4 years old]
[Infant-Toddler]
*According to the Frog Street curriculum, Learning Progressions are specific signifiers of knowledge and skills essential for kindergarten associated with an age range. For children ages 0-30 months (Early Head Start), target levels are 1-4. For children ages 30 months-4 years (Head Start), target levels are 5-6.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Foundation provides affordable lead testing for families Western Kansas Community Foundation (WKCF) awarded KCSL with a grant in 2020 year to purchase a lead testing machine for our Head Start and Early Head Start services in southwest Kansas. Due to the counties KCSL serves in the area primarily being rural, families often have difficulty receiving health services; most doctors’ offices send patients to local health departments for lead screening. This poses an issue for many working families who are unable to take time off work or lack access to transportation. The machine will allow staff to test blood lead levels for children enrolled in our services on-site saving families time and money. Community partners help KCSL families for Thanksgiving Convoy of Hope and First Assembly GC church in Garden City donated enough food to provide a bag of groceries to each family KCSL serves in southwest Kansas. Along with the food, staff delivered hand sanitizer and safety tips on Nov. 23-25, 2020. Thank you, Convoy of Hope and First Assembly GC for your support during the holiday season! Funding in Ulysses helps provide nutritious meals to children in our care As part of our early childhood education services, we ensure each child receives two meals and a snack per day making up 2/3 of their recommended daily nutrition. In March 2021, the Grant County Community Foundation awarded KCSL $3,000 to help pay for these meals. Thank you to the foundation for their support of making stronger families in Western Kansas! Grant provides needed tech to KCSL families In September 2020, the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund awarded KCSL with Technology for Families
grants for two different programs including Early Head Start. Funds were used to purchase mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, data plans and hotspots for families who lack necessary tools to receive services virtually during the pandemic. Staff distributed tablets and smart phones with up to six months of prepaid data. This kind of support helped families participate in virtual home visits as well as have ongoing internet access, which many did not have. Families have appreciated the opportunity to not only participate more fully in KCSL’s services but also connect with other community resources, apply for jobs and access online educational materials for their children. Library works with KCSL teachers to provide reading material for classes We want to give a special thank you to the Finney County Public Library for offering so much support to our Garden City staff. Throughout the school year, the library has provided bags upon bags of books for our
early education teachers to use for lessons. We couldn’t do the work we do without community support. Thank you for partnering with us to help our local children and families succeed!
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CLASS OBSERVATIONS “Pivoting is not the end of the disruption process, but the beginning of the next leg of your journey,” -Jay Samit The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is an observation instrument developed to assess classroom quality in pre-school programs. The CLASS dimension are based on developmental theory and research suggesting that interactions between students and adults are the primary mechanism of student development and learning.
CLASS AVERAGES FOR 2020-21 DOMAINS
PROGRAM
NATIONAL
Emotional Support
5.70
6.03
Classroom Organization
4.90
5.78
Instructional Support
2.04
2.94
SCHOOL READINESS GOALS KCSL’s Head Start has developed school readiness goals for children birth to 5-years-old. Goals are based upon the Head Start Early Learning Framework, Kansas Early Learning Standards and the program curriculum. Feedback from stakeholders, local school districts, KCSL Head Start staff and parents was obtained. APPROACHES TO LEARNING Children will increasingly demonstrate ability to regulate themselves in order to persist at tasks; they will demonstrate independence, initiative and creative imaginative expression. SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT Children will interact through cooperative play and develop personal relationships with other children; they will learn to manage emotions and will engage in problem solving and conflict resolution with peers; they will express empathy; they will show a positive sense of self and of belonging to a family, a community and other groups. LANGUAGE & LITERACY Children will be able to communicate needs and wants and demonstrate ability to use increasingly complex language. Children will engage with books and music and build written communication skills; they will demonstrate that the spoken language is composed of smaller segments of sound and begin identifying letters of the alphabet. Dual Language Learners will demonstrate increased competency in their first language while developing skills in English. COGNITION Children will demonstrate an increasing knowledge of recognizing simple patterns and shapes. Children will use their senses to seek answers through investigation and exploration and communicate results. Children will develop an understanding of family and community and how each fits into a larger world. PERCEPTUAL, MOTOR & PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT Children will begin to use motor skills to accomplish tasks. Children will develop personal care skills and increase knowledge of healthy eating habits and general safety.
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HEALTH SERVICES IMMUNIZATIONS
239 157
HEAD START CHILDREN UP TO DATE EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN UP TO DATE
DENTAL
220 90
HEAD START CHILDREN UP TO DATE EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN UP TO DATE
DISABILITY SERVICES
35 26
HEAD START CHILDREN (IEP) EARLY HEAD START CHILDREN (IFSP)
KCSL WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR At the beginning of 2021, JANENE RADKE started as KCSL’s new Head Start director. A Liberal native, Radke earned her bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from Wichita State University and returned to southwest Kansas with her family in 1997. Radke comes to KCSL with more than 10 years of experience managing and leading a nonprofit social service agency in Garden City. Radke has served as a member of USD 457 Board of Education since 2019. She is also a Leadership Garden City graduate and master trainer of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). She believes her experience has given her an understanding that allows her to recognize different walks of life with empathy. “I take people as they are in times of struggle or challenges,” said Radke. “I love to watch people grow and be successful. Watching others thrive brings me great joy whether it’s parents, children, or staff. I’m most excited to provide opportunities for everyone to grow.” In addition to her trauma-informed advocacy efforts, Radke enjoys spending time with her family and dogs in her downtime.
Individualized Education Program (IEP) | Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION
funding from the Office of Head Start FEDERAL FUNDS 2020-21 Grant Year OBJECT CLASS
HEAD START
EARLY HEAD START
TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
NON-FEDERAL MATCH
CARES ACT
Personnel
$2,145,905
$544,185
$176,568
$18,624
Fringe Benefits
$632,931
$164,247
$42,926
$1,603
TOTAL $2,885,282 $841,707
Travel
$0
Equipment
$0
Supplies
$59,725
Contractual
$35,697
$21,778
$85,989
$61,648
$1,417
$229,140 $37,114
Construction
$0
Other
$612,037
$123,881
Indirect
$409,873
$100,433
Total
$3,896,168
$954,524
$21,792
$243,100
$14,688 $11,337
$21,792
$550,000
$107,900
$1,015,498 $521,643 $5,530,384
Non-federal share resources are provided through the generosity of local donors, businesses, foundations and volunteers. Contributions toward the non-federal share came from: • Community and parent volunteers providing valuable service hours assisting in the classroom and working with parents (approximately 40 percent); and • Community grants and donations (20 percent). In addition, local service providers offer professional services at a discount to our Head Start children and families. KCSL’s program would not be as successful without the investment from communities.
THANK YOU CONTRIBUTORS & VOLUNTEERS! 10
FINANCIAL INFORMATION, continued funding from the State of Kansas
KANSAS EHS HV, KANSAS ELC & KANSAS EHS CCP FUNDS 2020-21 Grant Year OBJECT CLASS
KANSAS EHS - HV
KANSAS ELC (KHSA)
KANSAS EHS - CCP
TOTAL
Personnel
$198,447
$19,345
$149,277
$367,069
Fringe Benefits
$54,470
$0
$49,830
$104,300
Travel
$2,546
$0
$1,419
Equipment
$0
$0
$0
Supplies
$8,148
$0
$3,735
$11,883
Contractual
$1,795
$0
$59,872
$61,667
Building
$19,970
$0
$24,492
$44,462
Training
$2,371
$0
$2,245
$4,616
Other
$2,674
$0
$2,936
$5,610
Indirect
$12,197
$0
$33,288
Total
$302,618
$19,345
$327,094
$3,965 $0
$45,485 $649,057
It’s always rewarding seeing KCSL kids grow up to succeed. Blake was in KCSL’s early childhood education classes in Cimarron years ago. Now 17 years old and part of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization, he was our guide during a visit to the farm. “It was nice to have Blake there since I was with him the first time he took this same field trip as a child,” said Marca, KCSL’s family engagement coordinator in Cimarron.
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Kansas Children’s Service League is the Kansas chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America and Circle of Parents, a Kansas multi-site system of Healthy Families America® and a member of the United Way.