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Head Start andEarly Head StartANNUAL REPORT PROGRAM YEAR 2020–2021The Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency Head StartAnnual Report Program Year 2020–2021cover1

About NMCAAIn 1964, President Lyndon Johnson’s administration waged the war on Povertyand passed the Economic Opportunity Act which gave birth to CommunityAction in the United States. In 1974, two Community Action Agencies in northernMichigan merged to form Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency, nowknown as Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency (NMCAA).EmmetCharlevoixThere are 30 Community Action Agencies in Michigan and nearly1000 across the country. Like NMCAA, most are private nonprofit companies.AntrimLeelanauThroughout the agency’s 44-year history, NMCAA hasremained dedicated to strengthening communitiesthrough helping individuals and families achieve greaterBenzieeconomic security. This is accomplished by assistingresidents in solving community problems as well asmeeting their individual needs through case managementcounseling, advocacy, group participation, and service commonNMCAA serves the following ten counties: Antrim, Benzie,Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee,Roscommon and Wexford.The program has had a very positive impact on our family. Knowingexactly where my child stood developmentally was very important, seeingas how the first years of her life will affect how she learns and grows.Mission StatementHelping people by linking services,resources and opportunities.Vision StatementNMCAA leads in strengtheningcommunities by empowering individualsto overcome barriers, build connections,and improve their quality of life.NMCAA Head Start and Early Head Start

Community Needs AssessmentA complete needs assessment for Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency was last conductedin December 2021. A full copy of the report can be found on our agency website: www.nmcaa.net.NMCAA Early Childhood Programs is just one program under the NMCAA Community Action Agencyumbrella that supports families in obtaining resources and realizing their goals.Early ChildhoodHousing/Home Improvement Head Start Early Head Start Childcare Partnerships Great Start Readiness Program Home Repair Weaterization Down Payment Assistance Foreclosure Prevention Homebuyer Education Homeless Prevention Supportive Services for Veteran Families USDA Loan PackagingBudgetingFood Distribution Monthly & Quarterly Food Boxes Meals on Wheels (home delivery) Asset Building Bankruptcy Budgeting Utility Assistance Tax PreparationSnapshot of Community Needs throughout the NMCAA Service AreaHome Buyers AssistanceRepairing/Improving CreditChild Care or Preschool Ages 0-5Paying for Car RepairsMental Health CounselingFinding Affordable HousingBudgeting/Financial Planning ServicesPaying Rent/MortgageAccessing Food BanksInformation on Healthy Eating & NutritionRespondents Noting NeedAnnual Report Program Year 2020–20211

Our PhilosophyWe believe that children need strong families in order to develop into matureadults who are productive members of society. Our goal is to nurture families.We will seek whatever support is available and advocate for what is needed toenable the children in each family to be successful in school and beyond.We were nervous with how our son woulddo being away from home for the first timebut this program was wonderful for hiseducational and social development.Program OptionsNMCAA Early Childhood Programs recognize that families’ needs may differ.Therefore, we offer a variety of service options.Head StartCollaborativeCentersPart DayCenter BasedClassroomsExtended DayCenter BasedClassroomsTypical midAugustChild ContactHours4 days per week,4 hours per day4 days per week,6-7 hours per day48 weeks, childrenare offered care upto 10 hours per dayParent Contacts2(partnerships withlocal childcares)Early HeadStart CenterBasedClassroomsSeptember-midAugust4 6 weeks, 6 hoursper day4 in the form of home visits and parent/teacher conferencesNMCAA Head Start and Early Head StartEarly HeadStartCollaborative(partnerships withlocal childcares)Early HeadStart HomeBased ServicesSeptember-midAugustYear Round48 weeks, childrenare offered care upto 10 hours per day46 weekly homevisits per year24 SocializationExperiences

Enrollment245245Early Head StartHome BasedTotal Number of Children and FamiliesServed, Average Monthly Enrollment108Funded Enrollment:Head Start – 654Early Head Start – 337Total Number of Children Served:Head Start – 603Early Head Start – 435Expectant Women – 11Head Start CenterCollaborative CentersEarly Head StartCollaborative Centers60Extended Day CenterBased Classrooms54492Part-Day Center BasedClassrooms32Early Head Start CenterBased ClassroomsTotal Number of Families Served:Head Start – 568Early Head Start – 405NMCAA Early Head Start and Head Start Programs are funded to serve 991 children each year. Average 2021enrollment was lower than funded enrollment, due to the COVID 19 Pandemic. The average monthly enrollmentfor Head Start was 483, or 74% of federally funded enrollment. The average monthly enrollment for EarlyHead Start was 302, or 90% of federally funded enrollment. Head Start numbers are reflective of September2020-May 2021, when all Head Start programs are in operation. Early Head Start numbers are reflective of September2020-August 2021, since all Early Head Start program options operate year-round.Percentage of Eligible Children Served (program year 2020–2021)Eligible Children*Children Servedin Head StartChildren Servedin EHS CenterBasedChildren Servedin EHS HomeBasedTotal ChildrenServed inHS and EHSPercent ofEligible ChildrenServed inHS and d 266549224599131.70%CountyTotal*MI Kids Count Data 2020– Children Ages 0–5 Eligible for SNAP (eligibility equals 130% FPL)** These numbers show only the percentage of eligible children served through NMCAA Head Start and Early Head Start programs and do notrepresent a total that includes children served through other early childhood program options in these counties.Annual Report Program Year 2020–20213

Comprehensive ApproachNMCAA recognizes the importance of the family on their child’s journeyto school readiness and provides a comprehensive approach to servicesthat includes high-quality educational experiences for children, a focuson health (including physical, dental and social/emotional health) andresource/referral support to enhance overall family well-being.Health is the foundationof school readiness!Physical HealthOur team supports families in overcoming barriers to accessing health care for their children so that theycan stay healthy and ready to learn.Percentage of Children Served with Access to Health Care050%EHS with Dental Home 32%100%49%HS with Dental Home 66%84%93%EHS with Medical Home 89%HS with Medical Home 86% 93%EHS & HS with Health Insurance 97%Beginning of Year98%End of YearHealth Service Completion RatesUp to Date on Dental Exams orAge Appropriate Oral Heath Care31%42%52%Early Head Start4Up to Date on AgeAppropriate Preventive Care57%Head StartNMCAA Head Start and Early Head StartUp to Date on Immunizations76%93%

Family Involvement ActivitiesNMCAA Early Childhood Programs could not exist without the tremendous level of involvementput forth by the families of enrolled children. Participating in the program can help parents gaina better understanding of how the program is helping their child learn and grow. It also showschildren that learning and school are important to their family.Families can get involved in the program in the following ways:Parents/Guardians can makedecisions about the operation ofthe program by:Family Engagement Activities*Examples: Parent MeetingsParent Workshops*Offered during the 2020–2021Program Year: Becoming an active member in theParent Committee. Parent/Teacher Conferences Self-Care Home Visits Mindfulness Talking with other parents and staffabout the program and ways thateach person can help. EHS Socializations Family Game Night Policy Council Volunteer Activities Supporting and assisting theirPolicy Council Representativeswith center information andconcerns and/or as a PolicyCouncil Representative. Parent Workshops* Family Engagement Activities and ParentWorkshops are developed in part withactivities from Your Journey Together, aresilience building parenting curriculum.Number of Families Connected to ServiceThe family is the primary force inpreparing children for school and life,and children benefit when all of theadults who care for them work together.(Bronfenbrenner, 2004)Assistance Enrolling inEducation or Job TrainingFinancial Education/Debt CounselingMental Health ServicesCOVID-19 ImpactsHousing AssistanceAs identified by our Community NeedsAssessment, the COVID-19 pandemic has hada profound negative impact on households inthe region. Some impacts directly relate to thedisease itself, but most are related to economicand social effects indirectly caused by thepandemic. In survey data, 59% of all respondentsreported one or more economic impact on theirhouseholds over the course of the pandemic.Emergency/Crisis Intervention(food, clothing, shelter)During the 2020-2021 Program Year, our teamworked to mitigate the impact of the pandemicon family well-being by connecting families toservices to support their needs.84%83%andof families were connected to a service supportingfamily well-being.Early Head StartAnnual Report Program Year 2020–2021Head Start5

High Quality ProgrammingThe Head Start Approach to School Readiness means that children are ready for school, familiesare ready to support their children’s learning, and schools are ready for children.Our assessment system, Teaching Strategies GOLD, is aligned to our program curriculums, the HeadStart Early Learning Outcomes Framework, and state benchmarks for school readiness. These toolsassist teachers and home visitors, in conjunction with parents, in designing individualized lessonplans and learning experiences to support children in growing to their fullest potential.Program Curriculum and Assessment System InformationProgramCurriculumAssessmentParents as TeachersEarly Head Start Home Based(year round programming) Supports and engages parents intheir child’s development Provides early detection ofdevelopmental delays Helps strengthen familiesEarly Head Start CollaborativeCenters and Center BasedClassroomsHead Start Center BasedClassrooms and CollaborativeCentersTeaching Strategies GOLD Four checkpoint periods thatprovide a snapshot of children’sdevelopmental progress Fall, winter, spring, and summerCreative Curriculum Sets the stage for learning in sixdevelopmental areas with 23objectives Environmentally-based approachTeaching Strategies GOLD Three checkpoint periods thatprovide a snapshot of children’sdevelopmental progress Fall, winter, and springSupportive Learning Environments Promote Kindergarten ReadinessNMCAA Child Development Programs staff are committed to preparing children and their familiesfor kindergarten. NMCAA is a step above in creating classrooms that are well organized and effectivein nurturing children’s growth.Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is a tool used in Head Start classrooms to assessthe quality of interactions between teachers and students. NMCAA regularly surpasses nationalaverage scores in each of the CLASS dimensions.Further information on school readiness goals for all program options can be found at nmcaa.net.The results of the most recent reviews by the Secretary and Financial Audit can be found at nmcaa.net6NMCAA Head Start and Early Head Start