The Summer Directors' Retreat is one of our favorite events - an opportunity for Head Start and ECEAP leadership to learn from each other, get up to date information and refresh for another year of service and partnership with children and families in Washington. Join us for two great days!
We're once again at the beautiful Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort in Leavenworth. This is a terrific event, and much needed after two years of pandemic. This event is meant for directors and program leadership to be able to talk through difficult challenges together and get the latest information to guide your work and planning.
To ensure the safety of participants, we are requiring participants to be either fully vaccinated or submit a negative COVID test within 48 hours of the event, and masks will be required during meetings. Click here to see our COVID policy.
Agenda:
Tuesday, July 12th
1pm to 2pm Welcome, Community Building, and Introductions
I’m so glad that we are back in person. It’s been a long 2+ years. We will use this time to get reacquainted and to welcome some new directors and staff to our community. April Messenger our Director of Family Engagement and Advocacyhas a fun get to know you activity planned!
2pm to 3pm Head Start & ECEAP Hot Topics
Obviously, we need to make room for workforce and eligibility but what other issues are rising to the top for you. Mamie Barboza from EPIC will facilitate this session where we will spend the time surfacing key strategic topics and have some dialogue and time to share.
3pm to 3:30pm Short Break and Check-In
Connect with new friends and colleagues you may not have seen in a while and if you need to you can use this time to check in.
3:30pm to 4:30pm State Legislative Update
Melissa Johnson, WSA’s contractor lobbyistwill be here to provide you with a preview of the upcoming legislative session in 2023, get feedback on a draft advocacy agenda (ECEAP entitlement, wage increase, Early ECEAP, tribal funding, TK), and strategize ways to ensure we are successful in meeting our goals.
4:30pm to 5:30pm Innovative Strategies to Recruit and Retain HS/ECEAP Staff
We know we are facing incredible challenges when it comes to staff recruitment and retention. Rekah Strong, Executive Director of EOCF and WSA Board President,will facilitate a discussion focused on what’s working and what innovative strategies we might utilize. We will look at “grow your own” models, employee incentives, college partnerships, and other promising approaches.
Wednesday July 13th
9am to 10am Head Start and ECEAP Eligibility, Recruitment, and Selection
Lori Pittman from Puget Sound ESD and co-founder of the Parent Ambassadors Program and John Hurley from Kitsap Community Resources will lead our conversation about how programs are implementing the new SNAP eligibility process for Head Start, the latest on ECEAP eligibility changes as it relates to Fair Start for Kids (higher income, tribal categorical, homeless), and emerging issues and challenges.
10am to 10:15am Short Break
10:15am to 11am Lessons from COVID
Stacie Marez from ESD 105will facilitate this very interesting conversation. What are some of the lessons learned from the COVID pandemic over the past two plus years? What did we learn about ourselves, our programs, and our teams? What are some practices that we might keep? How might we think about our work differently as a result? What will it take to get our children ready for school and support families moving forward?
11am to 12noon Updates from the Office of Head Start
Kathy Schuknecht, Program Manager at the Region X Office of Head Start and her teamwill be on hand to give some updates and answer your questions (in person!).
12noon to 1:15pm Lunch
1:15pm to 2:30pm Federal Budget and Policy Update
Tommy Sheridan, NHSA’s Deputy Directorwill be joining us to provide you with an update on Head Start funding, the reconciliation package, prospects for a reauthorization, and the latest gossip from DC.
2:30pm to 2:45pm Short Break
2:45pm to 3:45pm Updates from DCYF: Meeting the ECEAP Entitlement
The DCYF team led by Assistant Secretary Nicole Rose and Karin Ganz, ECEAP Administratorwill be joining us to talk through DCYF plans for moving ECEAP closer to entitlement.
3:45pm to 4:30pm Head Start Collaboration Office Updates
Cathy Garland, Administrator of the Head Start Collaboration Office will update us on her most recent work including a really cool new app that will assist public schools in referring McKinney-Vento eligible children to Head Start and ECEAP providers
4:30pm to 4:45pm Short Break
4:45pm to 5:30pm TK: Managing Early Learning System Impacts
David Webster, Director of Early Learning and Family Services at the Opportunity Council, will be facilitating this session. We will look at some of the challenges and opportunities transitional kindergarten brings and gather some feedback for legislators working on legislation in this area.
8pm to 10pm Lakeshore Learning Evening Event at the Grotto
Lakeshore learning is hosting an outdoor event. Let them buy you a drink and thank you for your hard work!
Thursday July 14th
9am to 10:45am Data Carrousel
Well, I thought this might be a post-COVID exercise but here we are! During this block of time we will be reflecting, and discussing key pieces of Head Start, ECEAP, and early learning data, and trying to make sense of it.
10:45am to 11am Short Break
11am to 11:45am Closing Keynote Speaker
Sheryl Fryberg, Director of the Betty J. Taylor Center, Tulalip Tribe, and WSA Board Member
Resiliency: From Boarding School to Reaching for Educational Success
Questions? Contact Katy at katy@wsaheadstarteceap.com, 206.291.2021.
