Recruitment - An Update and Some Insights
Richard Johnson, Chief Social Services, Parent Involvement Branch, Program Support Division, Head Start Bureau
The regulation 45 CFR, Part 1305 (IM-92-20), issued October 9, 1992, governs the eligibility requirements for enrollment of children in Head Start, and defines a process for the recruitment, enrollment, and selection of Head Start children. This process is to be organized, focused, and more uniform among grantees and to provide opportunities for the greatest numbers of children to be considered for Head Start services.
Head Start programs work to reach those families who are most in need of services. In order to give these and other families an opportunity to apply for Head Start services, local Head Start programs should have a systematic approach for identification, selection, and enrollment of children. The new recruitment regulation will assist local programs in the development of a recruitment design that will assure a more effective method of reaching families in need of Head Start services.
Among the new aspects of the regulation is the requirement that programs assist families in completing application forms so that incomplete information will not be a barrier to Head Start services for their child. Further, programs must decide before they begin their major recruitment effort on the types of children and families, including children with disabilities, that will receive priority for services. Decisions are to be based on the grantee's Community Needs Assessment.
So, what needs to be considered in terms of effective recruitment of new families for your program? There is no universal or text book answer to this question. How ever, we do know that activities need to be proactive; year-round; verbal; print- or video-communicated; and could involve all Head Start staff as well as current or past Head Start parents, volunteers, and various community linkages and referral sources. Recruiters should be comfortable and familiar with the people of the community - their culture, lifestyles, and social conventions. They should also be thoroughly familiar with the ser vices and policies of Head Start. Recruiters should also be knowledgeable about services provided by other community agencies in case families need to be referred for services prior to the enrollment of their children in Head Start.
Child Abuse Prevention Advocate Honored
Kathy Shaw, Director of Davis County Head Start, 120 West 3000 North, Layton, Utah, was recently honored by her community and received an award for "Child Abuse Prevention Advocate." Presented by the Davis Child Abuse Prevention Team, that award honored kathy for her continuing advocacy on behalf of children and their families, for her many collaborative efforts with local agencies, and for her vigorous commitment in her community.
Kathy has been with Head Start for over 20 years and started out as a mother of a Head Start child.
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