OTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION
TEACHER EDUCATION AND COMPENSATION HELPS (T.E.A.C.H.)
Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) is an early childhood scholarship program with a primary goal to help change negative trends in the child care workforce. T.E.A.C.H. accomplishes its goal by providing direct support to early childhood caregivers and center directors to enable them to work toward earning a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or equivalency, an A.S. degree in Child Development and Education or a Director’s Credential. T.E.A.C.H. links compensation and training and involves a partnership for the sharing of expenses by the caregiver receiving the scholarship, the sponsoring child care center or family child care home and the T.E.A.C.H. program. The AWI provides funding for the T.E.A.C.H. program. The Florida Children’s Forum is the authorized agent for T.E.A.C.H. in Florida. For more information on T.E.A.C.H. call 1-877-FL TEACH
(1-877-458-3224) or go on-line at www.thechildrensforum.com
HEAD START
Head Start is both the name of a family of federal programs for low-income children and their families and the name given to the original program for children from three to five years of age. The Head Start family of programs includes: Early Head Start, Migrant Head Start, and American Indian Head Start. Head Start is designed to facilitate child development and promote school readiness by enhancing social and cognitive development through the provision of health, educational, nutritional, social and other services to meet the comprehensive needs of families. Eligibility for all Head Start programs is targeted at families at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. Ninety percent of the families must meet these financial eligibility criteria. Ten percent of the funded enrollment is set aside for children with disabilities. Funding for all Head Start programs flows directly from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to local agencies. Communities provide a 25% local match to federal funds. There are no parent fees for this program. There are Head Start services for preschool age children in every county in Florida.
Early Head Start is a federally funded program that provides early, continuous, intensive and comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income families. The purpose of the Early Head Start program is to enhance children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; to support parents' efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and to help parents move toward self-sufficiency. Early Head Start programs serve low-income pregnant women and families with children from birth to the age of three who are at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. There are no parent fees for this program. There are Early Head Start programs in 35 counties in Florida.
EVEN START FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM
The Even Start program is a federally funded family literacy program designed to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving educational opportunities. Even Start provides an integrated program of adult literacy or adult basic education, early childhood education, and parenting education. It is implemented through cooperative projects that build on existing community resources to promote achievement of the National Education Goals and assist low-income children and adults to achieve state content and student performance standards. Even Start provides a broad range of services to the most-in-need families and their children, birth through age seven years. There are no parent fees for this program. Funding is provided from the U.S. Department of Education to the Florida Department of Education and through an inter-agency agreement to the Office of Early Learning at the Agency for Workforce Innovation.
HOME INSRUCTIONAL PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (HIPPY)
HIPPY is a home-based instruction program for at-risk families with children ages three to five. HIPPY programs provided educational enrichment activities for children and linkage to community agencies to provide a comprehensive array of services. HIPPY home visitors are highly trained peers that meet with the family on a weekly basis for the 30-35 weeks of the program. Parents commit to work with their children at home on literacy and other activities. Monthly parent groups are offered to provide information and support. HIPPY programs are provided through local school readiness coalitions, school districts, and/or local community based organizations in 12 counties in Florida.
TEENAGE PARENT PROGRAM (TAPP)
The Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) is a state entitlement for educational and support services for students enrolled in public schools who are pregnant or parenting. It is designed to advance their progress toward a high school diploma and meet the special needs of these students and their children. The program provides classes in parenting skills, health and social services, childcare and transportation. There are no parent fees for this program.
MIGRANT HEAD START
Migrant Head Start programs modify the methods of service delivery to meet the unique needs of migrant and seasonal farmworker families. Migrant Head Start programs have an emphasis on serving infants and toddlers as well as preschool aged children, so they will not have to be cared for in the fields or left in the care of very young siblings while parents are working. Migrant Head Start programs provide a comprehensive array of services in 21 counties in Florida.
AMERICAN INDIAN HEAD START
American Indian Head Start programs support the rich, diverse and unique Indian language, heritage, and legacy. Programs are encouraged to integrate language and culture into their curriculum and program goals as they provide comprehensive developmental services for preschool children ages three to five and their families. In Florida, there is one American Indian Head Start program with the Miccosukee Tribe.
