OCTOBER 10, 2023 –South coast head start!

Audio recording here

  • (https://www.orcca.us) Wendi Baird

  • Head Start Contact info: 1855 Thomas Ave, Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-888-3717 schs@orcca.us

  • October is Head Start Awareness Month

    • Head Start has been here since 1978 / nationally since 1965

    • Head Start goals are to help children prepare to succeed in school and in life

      • Early learning and development

      • Family well-being

      • Health and wellness

      • Family engagement

    • Head Start Approach:

      • Children and Families come first - parents are the experts on their children

      • All people are included and respected - all inclusive

      • Children’s basic needs are met, and their ideas and interests are important

      • School readiness includes academic skills and social and emotional competence for children, advocacy skills for parents, and kindergarten partnerships

      • Famlilies can get help with goals and basic needs and are valued partners

    • Services offered:

      • pre kindergarten - 3-4 year olds (Head Start, Preschool Promise, other funding

        • Part day (3.5 hours) / Extended day (5.25 to 7.5 hours) / Full day - Full year (10 hours)

      • Infants, Toddlers, and Pregnant People (Early Head Start, Baby Promise)

        • Home-based (weekly home visits with family groups times 2x/month) / Center-based (8hours) / Full Day / Full Year 10 hours

    • Locations include:

      • Coos Bay, Myrtle Point, Brookings, Reedsport, Bandon, Charleston, Coquille, Gold Beach, North Bend, Port Orford

    • Provide comprehensive services to families to include Health, Social Services Educational support

      • Provide Health screenings and linking families to medical help Aand safe engaging learning environments

      • Also supporting social and emotional health - relationships are the foundation of learning

      • Includes adult directed and child directed learning experiences

      • Nutrition is very important

    • 5 ways Head Start programs help families

      • Providing parenting support and strategies (active parenting classes / Circle of Security / Parent Cafes)

      • Support parental health and links to community services during pregnancy

      • Connect families to community and federal assistance

      • Assist families in identifying and reaching their goals and dreams

      • Provide a career pathway in early care and education - 40% of current staff are former Head Start parents - promote from within - working hard to make this

    • Many funding sources: 38% Federal to local / 50% from State & Prekindergarten Head Start / 6% Preschool Promise & Baby Promise / 6% ERDC, USDA, School Districts, Donations

    • Eligibility and Selection: All services are provided at no cost to families

      • Below poverty receive priority - Preschool Promise - up to 200% poverty. School District partnerships allow additional over- income enrollment

      • Children experiencing homelessness, children placed with resource families, and families receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI, SNAP) are also eligible

      • Inclusion services for children with disabilities and other special needs

    • Funded to serve 417 and about 85%full

Introductions of new members: No new

Community partner updates

  • Frances Smith -

    • Dollars and Sense of Coos County Finances tonight Coos Bay Library Oct. 10 7-8:30pm

    • Coos County Friends of Public Health - An Afternoon with Friends - Aging: Challenges, Insights, & Strategies for successful aging Sat. October 28th 2 -3:30 RSVP by Oct 23rd required ($25)

  • Libby Kennard - Parkinson’s Resources - Living Well With PD — about living with PD not information on the disease -November 8th 1-2:30pm Coos Bay Library 800-426-6806 - please register - Free

    Carrie Prechtel - Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board - Traditional Health Worker Training - 3 year program (2022-2025) - training is ongoing

    • Doula

    • Community Health wWorkers

    • Peer support Specialist for SUD

    • Mental Health Specialist

    • Youth Support Specialist

    • Current goal is 78 traditional workers - help with daycare, laptops, etc, Job shadowing, Advisors, Certification Stipend for bilingual certification

    • carrie@commonthreadllc.com (SOWIB)

  • Phobe Skinner - Soroptimists International of Gold Beach- Ready to Begin a new life — scholarship - for women in Coos and Curry Counties phoebeskinner@hotmail.com

  • 541-425-0088

    • Eligible to apply if:

      • are a woman with primary financial responsibility for yourself and your dependents

      • are attending an undergraduate degree program or a vocational skills training program

      • have financial need

    • Application deadline: November 15, 2023

  • Erlette Upshaw - Coos Elderly Services - Oregon Health Authority 10 million dollars to give - grant opportunities - have to register October 16th zoom meeting to explain the process to apply - Coos & Curry

    • Communicable disease prevention

    • Climate adaption (heaters & air conditioners)

    • Public health emergency preparedness

    • domestic wells

  • Melissah Hendrickson - Warming Curry Coat drive still has funding going out to school district in Curry

  • Jen Shafer - United Way of Southwestern Oregon - annual Coat & Shoe program

    • Recruiting for a new Executive Director - Jen is moving into a new role (not leaving)

  • Renee Menkens - SouthCoast Together - ACEs training available and brain building game still available - also have Resilience and Self Regulation training ashleymc@scesd.k12.or.us

  • Rachel Montgomery - Humbolt Disaster Response and Disaster Fund is available can give to organization but not individuals

  • Robert Whitsell - Neighbor Works Umpqua https://www.nwumpqua.org/ - Expecting a release of funds from the State for the CBDG to do repairs to 27 homes in Coos county and the City limits of Reedsport and targeting Curry county for the next CBDG - for 27 home repairs starting the end of the year

    • Elegibility is : Under 80% of area median income for their area

    • Energy trust of OR - Heat pumps - Alex is the energy impact specialist

    • Manufactured homes have to be built after 1977

  • Kelcy Mathews - Job posting: Human Services Specialist 3, bilingual Spanish required https://wd5.myworkday.com/oregon/d/inst/15$392530/9925$165929.htmld

    • Diaper Drive - 2524 DIAPERS total - Diapers are available for distribution

    • Diversity Conference April 10 & 11at the Mill casino - save the dates

  • Starla Paris: ODHS behind the scenes changes - monthly SSP meeting —November 2nd meeting information on these in the power point

  • Next month meeting November 14th (topic Advanced Health - Community Health Assessment)

  • Send suggestions for future topics to Jen Shafer director@unitedwayswo.org