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Head Start -- Early Head Start is a federally funded, comprehensive child development program that mobilizes community resources to benefit low-income, preschool children between the ages of birth and five. Head Start originated under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
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Ninety percent of Head Start children are from families that live on less than poverty level incomes ($17,600 for a family of three in 2008). Additionally, ten percent of a program's slots are allocated for children with special needs. The mandate to serve low-income children and their families is based on the premise that these children can benefit from curiosity, self-discipline, and enhancement of their intellectual and physical development.
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The Michigan Head Start Association was founded in 1988 and works to promote equal opportunities for all Head Start children, families and programs to succeed. We accomplish this mission through legislative advocacy, policy and early childhood research, acting as a vehicle for communication among Michigan Head Start programs and among state agencies, and by providing professional development opportunities for Head Start programs and professionals committed to early childhood.
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We also partner with other state-level organizations with similar goals, including Michigan Community Action Agency Association, Michigan 4C Association, the Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children, Head Start – State Collaboration Office, Michigan League for Human Services, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Michigan, Association for Child Development and Michigan's Children, to name a few.
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MHSA staff work continuously to educate Michigan's legislators, departments and key decision makers regarding the importance of the Head Start community and programs. Our Staff participate in many state-level task forces and committees advocating for children and their families and making sure that the needs of Head Start are represented. Some of these committees include the Michigan Coalition for Children and Families, the Michigan Child Care Task Force, Governor's Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan Advisory Committee, MAISA Early Childhood Ad-hoc, and several of the ECIC Board External Advisory Committees.
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MHSA works continuously to improve and assist programs in Michigan by providing quality training sessions to Head Start staff and parents, and have numerous educational conferences on different topics in response to Federal and State mandates and member needs. As a membership organization, we are committed to meeting the needs of our members. If you would like to join the Michigan Head Start Association, please click on "Join MHSA" on the top of the page. Call 517 374 6472 with questions, or e-mail us for more information.
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Linda McGillis, President
Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency
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Nikia Parker, Vice President
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency
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Kim Johnson, Treasurer
MDS Community Action Agency
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Yalonda Freeman, Secretary
Saginaw ISD Head Start
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Kathryn Armstrong, Parliamentarian
MDS Community Action Agency
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Reenie Butler
CLM Community Action Human Resource Authority, Inc.
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Rich Van Tol
Saginaw ISD Head Start
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Debbie Bedard
Community Action
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Patricia Atchison
Wayne County Head Start
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James Byrd
DHS-City of Detroit Head Start
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Gay Nell Jenkins
The Order of The Fisherman Ministry Head Start
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Janice Morgan
Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency
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Tracy Fair
Mid Michigan Community Action Agency
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Lisa Thomas-Lewis
Wayne County Head Start
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Christina Alexander
The Order of The Fisherman Ministry Head Start
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Maryann LittleJohn
Capital Area Community Services
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Tina Harouna-Maiga
Community Action
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Ricky Ladd
Mid Michigan Community Action Agency
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Amy Maltby
Mid Michigan Community Action Agency
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Robbin Carter
Capital Area Community Services
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S. Joy Gaines
At-Large Board Member
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Robert Phillips
At-Large Board Member
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Marvin Robertson
At-Large Board Member
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