The Pennsylvania Head Start Association

06/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for today’s Free! Resource Friday session! 🎉

We hope you left with something new, helpful, and ready to use in your work with children and families. 💡

A special thank you to Anna for sharing her time, knowledge, and resources with us! 🌟

We’re grateful for everyone who continues to show up, learn together, and strengthen this work across Pennsylvania. 💙

We’ll see you in July! ☀️

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/12/2026

💙 Head Start is more than a program — it is a foundation, a community, and for many families, a full-circle story.

One Head Start leader recently shared how her family’s journey began when her parents migrated from Mexico to the United States with two of her siblings, not knowing the language and facing many barriers, but holding onto hope for a better life.

Her mother discovered Head Start, and before kindergarten, she and her five siblings were enrolled. Over time, several cousins and family friends also became part of Head Start through word of mouth.

That early experience left a lasting impact.

“I was so inspired by the experience in Head Start that I wanted to give back and started my career as an assistant teacher myself. I always tried my best to help children discover their potential and develop a love for learning, just like our teachers did for us.”

Today, her story has come full circle. She continued to grow in her career and now serves as Deputy of Direct Services Administrator. Two of her sisters are also working for Head Start and giving back to children and families.

This is the power of Head Start: supporting children, strengthening families, opening doors, and inspiring the next generation of leaders. 💙

Read more stories here: https://paheadstart.kudoboard.com/boards/OHdseSMh

06/11/2026

📚💙 Community support makes a lasting impact in Head Start!

Head Start/Early Head Start of Beaver County recently welcomed Pa. State Rep. Josh Kail and his son, Eli Kail, to their Hopewell Head Start classroom for a special reading experience with children.

With encouragement from his dad, Eli read What’s My Support Power? to the class, and the children truly enjoyed the story and time spent together. Their visit was especially meaningful during NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child, a time to recognize the importance of early learning, strong family partnerships, and community support in helping children thrive. 📖✨

Throughout the school year, Head Start/Early Head Start of Beaver County has welcomed many volunteers into their classrooms, including parents, family members, police officers, firefighters, elected officials, and other community members.

This is such a wonderful example of what it looks like when a Head Start program builds strong connections across the community. Amazing work, Beaver County! 👏💙

06/11/2026

📣 Pennsylvania’s early care and education workforce is facing a historic staffing crisis — and continued investment is essential.

When programs cannot recruit and retain qualified staff, children, families, and communities feel the impact. Investing in early care and education means investing in school readiness, family stability, and Pennsylvania’s future workforce. 👶🏽📚🏡

Please take a moment to sign the petition and tell PA legislators that early childhood investments must remain a priority.

Every signature helps amplify this message. ✍️💙
https://startstrongpa.org/take-action

06/03/2026

Family Foundations Early Head Start recently participated in a roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Summer Lee focused on proposed legislation to expand Head Start services.

During the discussion, the Family Foundations team highlighted the impact of its Early Head Start program, including the B.R.A.V.E. Group. A program participant also attended and shared how Head Start and the B.R.A.V.E. Group have positively impacted her life.

Family Foundations shared photos from the event, along with an article further explaining the roundtable discussion. Their participation offered an important opportunity to elevate the meaningful work happening within Early Head Start and to highlight how programs like the B.R.A.V.E. Group support children, families, and communities.

https://www.wesa.fm/education/2026-04-14/summer-lee-head-start-allegheny-county-early-ed?utm_source=WESA&utm_campaign=e887344274-Inbox_Edition_newsletter_2026_04_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6838b61265-446521894

06/02/2026

🚨 Pennsylvania Head Start, let’s show up strong!

Head Start staff across the country are signing on to support investments in our workforce, programs, children, and families.

Let’s make sure Pennsylvania is one of the most represented voices in this effort. 💙💛

It only takes a minute — add your name now!

🔗 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1DeSArDQENH9FBW_GypdFQZB9bQBhtkU9Pnk6NGLvoSU/viewform?edit_requested=true

05/27/2026

"I attended headstart as a child. Headstart was the base of starting relationships (of people I still know and keep in touch with to this day) and the beginning of who I am today.

Fast forward to 2016 I began college and started going to school for my associates in early childhood. I needed to complete some observation hours and student teaching, so I had applied to the same headstart I attended as a child and was hired on as an aide in 2018. I immediately bumped up to assistant, and shortly after, lead teacher. Headstart has helped me in achieving my early education goals and helped to create meaningful relationships with children and their families. It is so rewarding each and every day to help children reach their goals, provide a safe place for them and see their little smiles light up each morning they get to see Miss Jayda. It is rewarding to know the impact we have on children and their families.

Aside from my career, my step son went through headstart and it taught him school readiness and important social emotional skills. It is my hopes that my daughter will also have the opportunity to attend headstart, as it is such an important asset to our children, and our community."

05/26/2026

Big News for Ramsey School! 🎉

Pocono Services for Families and Children was recently awarded a national grant from T-Mobile as part of its commitment to investing in small towns across America.

Their Ramsey School Project was selected as one of just 25 recipients out of 900 applications nationwide — an incredible recognition of the meaningful work happening in their community.

Grant funds will support a brand-new on-site kitchen at Ramsey School, allowing meals to be prepared right on-site rather than transported from another location. This simple but powerful upgrade will help better support the children and families served by the program.

Thank you for sharing this exciting glimpse into your work — and congratulations to Pocono Services for Families and Children on this well-deserved national recognition!

05/25/2026

LEARN MORE HERE!

The University of Pittsburgh has launched a new graduate Certificate in Infant Mental Health (IMH) — a fully online, affordable credential designed specifically for working professionals in home visiting, early intervention, early care and education, and child-serving clinical settings.

The program is offered through Pitt Online at $750 per credit hour and is directly aligned to PAAIM and Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health endorsement learning domains.

LEARN MORE HERE!The University of Pittsburgh has launched a new gr...

05/22/2026

Tell Congress to Increase Funding for Head Start in FY27!
President Trump’s administration has released its Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget proposal, outlining federal funding priorities for the year ahead. The proposal maintains current funding levels for Head Start, continuing support for the program serving children and families in every congressional district across the country.

While maintaining level funding avoids immediate cuts, the proposal does not include additional investment to address rising operational costs, including workforce needs, facilities, transportation, and comprehensive services provided to children and families. Without increased funding, programs will continue facing difficult decisions that impact staffing, enrollment capacity, and service delivery.

The President’s proposal is only the beginning of the federal appropriations process. Congress will ultimately determine final FY27 funding levels, which is why it is critical for lawmakers to hear directly from constituents about the importance of investing in Head Start.

We need a strong, unified message from communities across the country: Head Start programs need increased FY27 funding to support a meaningful cost-of-living adjustment, quality improvement funding to maximize program capacity and impact, and additional resources to continue providing nutritious meals to children and families.

Please take a moment using this form to email your Members of Congress and urge them to support increased funding for Head Start in Fiscal Year 2027.

FY27 federal budget proposal