Posts by Mel Gravely
Interruptions in Early Education Can Affect Development and School Readiness
Although many of us will luckily never experience the symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, many more of us will bear the burden of its ancillary effects. Because of staff and student cut-backs, schools closing completely, lack of access to materials for remote learning, and the flaws in remote learning, children and teenagers of all ages…
Read MoreThe Gravely Group 2020 Year in Review
We’ve been doing these Year in Review posts for eight years now. We’ve seen some tough times, like in 2013 when the federal government was forced to cut back across the board through sequestration. But we’ve also seen some great times, like the nationwide celebration of 50 years of Head Start just two years later.…
Read MoreHow COVID-19 is Affecting Regular Health Screening for Head Start Children
To understand the effects of the pandemic on medical care, researchers with the COVID-19 Outbreak Public Evaluation Initiative (COPE Initiative) developed a web-based survey that asked respondents if they had delayed or avoided medical care due to concerns related to COVID-19. The COPE Initiative is a public-private partnership between the Centers for Disease Control, universities,…
Read MorePresident-Elect Joe Biden’s Plan for Early Childhood Education
My hope is if there’s one silver lining from this pandemic, it’s that parents of young children will never take the work of early childhood education teachers and caregivers for granted ever again. This past Spring, as public school systems, private daycares, and Head Start programs began to shutter their doors to protect the health…
Read MoreMaking sure your facilities are safe to reopen
When reopening your building after a prolonged shutdown, whether it was due to a natural disaster or a reduction in operations because of the pandemic, you’ll want to consider a few things to ensure the health and safety of staff and students. In September, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released recommendations for businesses and…
Read MoreOHS Announces Update to Designation Renewal System
Starting October 27, 2020, a new rule governing the Head Start Designation Renewal System (DRS) will go into effect. The Office of Head Start (OHS) states that the new rule will reduce the burden on high-performing grantees and focus on better identifying the lowest-performing grantees. The Designation Renewal System was first launched in late 2011,…
Read MoreHelping Pregnant Women Reduce Stress During COVID-19
For women having their first pregnancy, their daily lives are full of questions and new experiences. How can I protect my health and the health of my baby? How can I make sure my pregnancy is progressing as it should? What should I eat? What medications are and aren’t ok to take? And that’s during…
Read MoreThe Other Public Health Emergency: Head Start and the Opioid Crisis
While the nation is continuing to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s not forget about another crisis that our communities continue to fight every day: Opioids. Head Start Agencies across the country have been able to provide another branch of support for families affected by the opioid crisis, and continue to provide resources despite the intense…
Read MoreWhat to Expect this Upcoming Program Year (2020-2021)
At the end of last spring’s program year the country shut down based on expert advice on public health and safety. Programs moved to a virtual format and classrooms cleared out, but this did not mean that Head Start programs closed. Despite the dramatic change in procedures that the emergency inflicted, staff adapted and continued…
Read MoreServing Families in a Remote Environment: Tips for Family Services Staff
In the digital age there are many tools we are able to use to stay connected while working remotely and provide digital education. It is paramount that we use these tools to stay connected with parents and support them while at home with their kids. If children aren’t in classrooms, family services staff are even…
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