Posts by Mel Gravely
The African American Boys Project: Implementing Culturally Responsive, Strength-Based Practices
This is the fourth and final blog in our series on the OHS publication Supporting School Readiness and Success of Young African American Boys Project. In our first three blogs, we talked about the origins of the project, defined the culturally responsive lens, and talked about why it focuses on African American boys in the…
Read MoreThe African American Boys Project: Understanding Young African American Boys
This is the third blog in our four-part series on the training document, Supporting School Readiness and Success in African American Boys Project. In our first blog of the series, “An Introduction to the “Supporting the School Readiness and Success of African American Boys Project’’, we discussed how the Office of Head Start’s National Center…
Read MoreThe African American Boys Project: The Culturally Responsive Lens
This is the second blog in our four-part series on the training document, Supporting School Readiness and Success in African American Boys Project. In our first blog of the series, “An Introduction to the “Supporting the School Readiness and Success of African American Boys Project,” we mentioned the Culturally Responsive Strength-Based (CRSB) Framework. It’s this…
Read MoreAn Introduction to the “Supporting the School Readiness and Success of African American Boys Project”
I’m always surprised at the breadth and depth of information available at the Office of Head Start’s (OHS) Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECKLC). If you have a question or a problem, chances are there’s a document or resource available that can help. I came across one such document in an email from ECKLC…
Read MoreHow can programs promote positive, goal-oriented relationships with fathers?
“Father engagement is not a stand-alone program initiative, but a vital and integrated aspect of parent, family, and community work.” – Birth to 5 Father Engagement Guide Like most things in life that are worth the effort, engaging fathers takes work. Sometimes, it takes a lot of work. However, family engagement is one of the…
Read MoreOHS Releases Enrollment Expectations for 2021-2022 School Year
Summer is the time for planning. And after the confusion and societal upheaval of the last year, this upcoming school year is going to take more planning than usual. The Office of Head Start (OHS) recently released a program instruction outlining their enrollment expectations for the upcoming school year. In short, it states that designees…
Read MoreHow to Hire a Head Start Consultant: An Update for the Post-COVID era
Way back in 2013, we wrote a blog called “How to Hire a Head Start Consultant.” In it, we outlined some of the major reasons your program might consider hiring an outside consultant, including filling gaps in expertise amongst your staff, as well as the benefit of an outsider without preconceived notions that can help…
Read MorePutting together a COVID-19 vaccine policy for your Head Start program
As of the writing of this blog, approximately 44% of Americans 18 and over have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with one of the three approved vaccines, with an additional 20% say they plan on getting it soon. So what about the other 30-40%? For the past few weeks, vaccine rates have been slowing down.…
Read MoreAmerican Rescue Plan to Provide Additional Support for Head Start Programs, Families
The American Rescue Plan (ARP) was signed into law early last month by President Joe Biden, and will provide direct support and greater access to benefits for children and families struggling financially during the pandemic. Out of the $1.9 trillion passed through legislation, $1 billion will go to Head Start and Early Head Start programs…
Read MoreSupporting Family Engagement through Music
By Lauren Guilmartin, Director of Early Learning, Music Together WorldwideAnd Anne Sailer, Teacher Trainer, Music Together Worldwide The following article was provided by Music Together Worldwide. Music Together is an early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age eight – and the grownups who love them! First offered in 1987, their…
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