Resource Access Projects (RAP's)
Resource Access Projects (RAP's) are the primary vehicle for providing Head Start grantees, including infant/toddler programs supported through the Parent and Child Care Centers, with training and technical assistance (T/TA) to enable them to fully include children with disabilities and their families.
RAP's assist grantees in meeting the special needs of these children and their families by helping them to combine resources provided directly by Head Start with those available from other sources in their communities. RAP's also assist grantees in developing interagency agreements with local education agencies (LEA's) as required by Head Start Program Performance Standards.
American Indian and Migrant grantees receive T/TA in the area of disabilities from their Technical Assistance Support Centers (TASC's).
RAP's are funded to:
- Maintain an updated file of resource providers for use by Head Start grantees or others involved in the effort to include children with all types of disabilities in Head Start.
This file should include information about the types of resources available locally to programs, their costs, and methods of access. If grantees are interested in using a direct T/TA provider on site, the RAP can refer them to local contractors.
- Provide support services and materials to Head Start grantees and other groups who contribute to the effort to fully include children with disabilities in Head Start, including the assistance necessary to encourage grantees to enroll greater numbers of children with more severe disabilities.
Grantees can contact their RAP or Regional Office for information on upcoming training events in their area; training materials which will help them to increase their staff's special skills, including materials which will help them use or adapt existing technology to meet the special needs of Head Start eligible children; or to request on-site technical assistance.
- Assist the Regional Office in planning and implementing two conferences annually for grantees timely and ongoing information about other acclivities and programs in the area.
Grantees can contact their RAP's to obtain schedules of training events that are being offered in each State and the RAP can help them determine which events are relevant to children with disabilities. Each RAP also maintains a library of resources, including training materials. Grantees may borrow training resources to test in their own programs before purchasing them.
- Facilitate the development of interagency agreements with State Education Agencies (SEA's), LEA's, and other agencies concerned with services for young children with disabilities, as required by Head Start Program Performance Standards.
RAP's can describe the grantees interagency agreements between Head Start and SEA's, which can serve as models for grantees in developing their own agreements with public schools. RAP's can also help grantees in developing their individual local agreements.
- Assist Head Start grantees with the Annual Survey of Services to Children with Disabilities in Head Start (Section B in the End of Year Program Information Report [PIR]).
RAP's assist grantees in correctly completing Section B of the PIR.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE for problem solving around a particular need or issue: Contact your RAP for telephone consultation; contact your RAP or Regional Office to request on-site technical assistance.
TRAINING: Contact your RAP to obtain listings of upcoming training events in your State and/or to borrow samples or training materials relevant for serving children with disabilities.