Handout 2:
Applying Head Start Policies and Procedures

Instructions
Using your program's policies, your group should discuss the issue assigned by the trainer. Your discussion should focus on the program's position concerning the issue.

Issue 1: Jobs in Jeopardy!

You are the family services worker for Autumn Head Start located in a small rural community. Community resources have never been abundant, but the community works well together, shares its resources, and manages to get by.

Ever since the local processing plant closed, employment has been a problem in Autumn City. You are the Parent Educator for the local home-based Head Start program, on route to your last home visit for the day. The family you are about to visit has been hit hard by the layoffs and there are few prospects for employment around the county.

When you arrive, the entire family (including four-year-old Jeff and five-year-old Jennifer) is on the porch. As you drive up, the mother runs to the car and says that a manufacturing plant in the next county is accepting job applications, in person, until five p.m. today. She says that all the other neighbors are running to get their applications in and there is no one to watch the children. She informs you that she and her husband must try to get a job. She begs you to watch the children for "no more than two hours," so she won't have to leave them home alone.

Issue 2: A View with Nothing to See

Recently, Valley View Head Start program began a collaboration with a local child care facility to provide full-day services for children. You and the other coordinators were instrumental in starting the collaboration and insisted that the child-care shift begin at four o'clock-ensuring continuous, uninterrupted services. Because your office is next door to one of the classrooms, you have been "covering" at least twice a week for the child-care worker who is continuously late. This afternoon, while you are waiting for the child-care worker to arrive, a new Head Start parent hands you her child's immunization forms. She states that this information completes the required forms for enrollment that she gave to the child-care worker yesterday.

After thanking her and seeing the child-care worker enter the classroom, you return to your office. Unfortunately, upon locating the child's folder, you see that it is empty.

Issue 3: Tattletale Teacher?

When Jan Springer arrives to enroll her children today, she looks wonderful. Jan says that things are going well and that she couldn't be happier. You sit with Jan to complete the enrollment application and ask to see the family's income statements.

All of Jan's papers and verifications are in order and the children's health records are up-to-date. You remind her that the enrollment committee will review the application and notify her in a week or so, but you do not foresee any problems.

As you are walking Jan to the door, a teacher goes over to where you were sitting, picks up Jan's files and starts looking through them. Your co-worker tells you that Jan has lied on her application. She says that she heard from her neighbor that the boys' father was living with them and supporting the family by selling drugs out of the house.