Good News! VOLUME 4 - ISSUE 1
Committed to Excellence
Since its inception 45 years ago, HCHRA has consistently placed great value on the quality management of programs and delivery of services. Each year, the agency undergoes extensive monitoring and audits to determine how well it is performing. Overall, it is doing very well. HCHRA’s 2019 fiscal review, which concluded near the end of 2020, produced a clean financial audit for the 24th consecutive year. The agency was found to have properly managed a $30 million budget without any findings. In March, the Mississippi Department of Human Services announced that HCHRA met 100% of the Community Services Block Grant Program organizational standards for 2020. The standards by which HCHRA was measured are designed to ensure that the agency has the capacity to provide high-quality services to low-income families and communities. The standards are comprised of nine categories: consumer input and involvement, community engagement, community assessment, organizational leadership, board governance, strategic planning, human resource management, financial operations and oversight, and data and analysis. HCHRA achieved a perfect score in every area. Head Start is the agency’s largest program. The perfor-
mance standards by which Head Start is governed ensure that HCHRA delivers comprehensive, high-quality individualized services to support the educational, social and emotional development and wellbeing of children from low-income families. In addition to conducting year-round training and monitoring and providing technical assistance, HCHRA established an independent Quality Assurance (QA) division to promote efficiency and strengthen accountability. QA specialists conduct comprehensive internal audits for the entire range of Head Start services to keep executive-level staff informed on any unusual practices or matters of significance, allowing the agency to self-correct before an observation becomes an area of concern. Instituting a QA division is not a widespread practice for Head Start programs. HCHRA saw it as a worthwhile investment to ensure ongoing success and continuous improvement. “As an organization that is highly regulated by federal standards, our goal is to operate at a level of excellence that exceeds the norms,” said Kenn Cockrell, HCHRA president and CEO. “Despite a year full of challenges, we have managed to do just that.”
So, what exactly does the Quality Assurance division focus on? Everything! Governance Eligibility Recruitment Selection Enrollment Attendance
Structure Curriculum Individualized Services Health and Safety Nutrition Facilities and Grounds
In addition to auditing program areas, QA specialists visited 99 classrooms at 17 Head Start centers to assess COVID-19 preparedness and safety. The specialists found every center to be properly equipped with personal protective equipment and in full compliance. 3 Masking 3 Social distancing 3 Disinfecting and sanitizing 3 Health checks and temperature scans before entry 3 Signage to promote proper distancing, masking and hand washing
Transportation Family and Community Engagement Human Resources Professional Development Program Management Data Management and Systems