News and Resource Links
News:
From ACF-IM-HS-10-02, 0511/10 - The Office of Head Start (OHS) is pleased to announce the publication in English and Spanish of Revisiting and Updating the Multicultural Principles for Head Start Programs Serving Children Ages Birth to Five.
Revisiting and Updating the Multicultural Principles for Head Start Programs Serving Children Ages Birth to Five highlights the ten original Multicultural Principles and includes a brief research review, key implications, stories from the Head Start community, as well as reflective questions or activities. Head Start programs should continue to embrace the original “challenge” and use this updated resource to improve programming and service delivery for children and families.
Read the full IM and view the revised publication here.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 16, 2010 - BAM Radio Network, the education station online, today announced the launch of "Child Health and Safety Radio with Dr. Charlotte Hendricks." The ambitious new program aims to expand the availability of health and safety information to underserved communities by leveraging new media and social networking. The program will feature interviews with the nation's leading experts, researchers and advocacy groups on issues related to children's health and safety. You can access this program at www.childhealthonline.org. It is also available through iTunes. To read the entire press release, go to http://www.bodymindandchild.com/press84.htm.
Luis Hernandez, T/TAS ECE Specialist, joins Parents as Teachers Board.
Check it out here!
Notice Regarding Federal Financial Report
The Federal Financial Report (FFR or Standard_Form_425) will consolidate and replace the SF 269 (Financial Status Report) and PSC 272 (Federal Cash Transactions Report) with a single report. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is requiring that federal agencies transition to the FFR beginning with Fiscal Year 2010 reports (for the quarter ending 12/31/2009). The FFR provides Federal agencies and grant recipients with a standard format and consistent reporting requirements. Effective January 01, 2010, the FFR functionality will be available to all users of the Payment Management System for their first quarter fiscal year 2010 reports (for the period October 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009).
See instructions for using SF 425.
If the recipients previously filed cash transaction reports using the PSC-272, the new FFR form and the FFR Attachment for reporting disbursements for multiple grants must be filed. Also, the FFR cash transaction reports must be filed within 30 days of the end of the quarter (instead of the 45 days allowed for filing the PS C-272). If recipients previously filed financial status reports using the SF-269, they should request guidance from their awarding agency regarding the specific financial status information the agency requires to be reported and the reporting frequency.
Audit Extension
Recently, the Office of Management and Budgeting (OMB) issued a correspondence prohibiting the extension of the submission of the annual audit by the Federal cognizant or oversight agency. The instructions are intended to support transparency and accountability. Therefore, all Head Start grantee and delegate agencies must comply with the audit submission requirements contained in OMB Circular A-133.320(a). The audit shall be completed and the data collection form shall be submitted within the earlier of 30 days after receipt of the auditor’s report(s), or nine months after the end of the audit period.
Grantee and delegates agencies should work closely with their auditor, to ensure compliance with the instructions.
If additional information is needed, you may contact T/TAS.
ARRA Reporting Update
From: Bob Wilcher, Executive Director, Kentucky Head Start Association
Recently, the Administration for Children and Families (“ACF”) issued new guidance on Recovery Act Reporting, changing how Recovery Act funds for cost of living increases (“COLA”) and retention bonuses are to be reported and counted. The new guidance explains that all Head Start and Early Head Start grantees who receive COLA should now note that the use of these funds is to be excluded from the total number of jobs created and retained calculation in ARRA reporting. To read the new guidance go to http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/What%27s%20New/2009_whatsnew.html#November and see the information entitled “Supplemental Jobs Guidance for Federal Agencies” dated November 18, 2009.
With the next round of Recovery Act reports due to recovery.gov by January 10, 2010, the Head Start Legal Advisory Service will present an emergency webinar on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 3 pm eastern time to ensure that you are up to date on all Recovery Act reporting guidance to date, including this critical new guidance on job reporting and counting. For more information, see below in this update, and visit http://www2.eventsvc.com/FTLF/fths/ to sign up for this important webinar.
Information for ARRA Grant Recipients
The ARRA requires that ARRA-funded grants be individually tracked to monitor each grantee’s advances and expenditures. Consequently, PMS requires the establishment of ‘P’ accounts for all grantees receiving ARRA funds to enable grant-by-grant tracking. Each ‘P’ account has associated ‘subaccounts’ that the grantor agency must establish and each subaccount represents a discrete ARRA-funded grant.
T/TAS can provide all the on-site technical assistance or training you need to help establish, manage, and monitor the required accounts for ARRA funding. To learn more, call T/TAS at 800-882-7482 or email us at ttas.info@wku.edu.
Readings & Resources for ECE 2.0
By Chip Donohue, Director of Distance Learning, Erikson Institute
Download HERE
T/TAS Provides Start-Up Planning for EHS. Careful planning and preparation are imperative before beginning services to infants, toddlers, and their families. The Office of Head Start recognizes that start-up planning is critical to the success of Early Head Start programs, and requires a thoughtful process in both design and implementation. The start-up experts of T/TAS at WKU can meet all your start-up planning needs and we encourage you to contact T/TAS today to discuss your specific requirements.
View our online flyer for more detailed information at http://www.ttas.org/mktg/ehsstartupplanningservices.pdf
Training and Technical Assistance Services at Western Kentucky University is pleased to extend an invitation to provide targeted training to your Policy Council, Governing Body, and Management Team. The roles and responsibilities of the Governing Body and the Policy Council, as outlined in the Head Start Act and the Head Start Program Performance Standards require planning, communication, and a clear vision. T/TAS can tailor professional development opportunities that are accurate, relevant, and up‐to‐date to include in your technical assistance plan today!
View our online flyer for more information
http://www.ttas.org/pdf/HeadStartActFlyer.pdf
Resources:
The FY2010 Office of Head Start Monitoring Protocol and Guides -- includes printable individual content area sections.
Swine Flu Information from CDC!
The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007
The 2009 Family Income Guidelines ACF-IM-HS-08-05-R
Head Start Leader's Guide to Positive Child Outcomes: Strategies to Support Positive Child Outcomes
What's New? Alerts. Follow this link to the Head Start Information and Publications web page for the latest Head Start Information Memoranda, annoucements, and publications. You can also sign up for automatic notification of What's New Alerts.
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