Head Start California

08/24/2026

✨ 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 ✨

💙 Tell us your Head Start story!

As we prepare for Head Start Awareness Month this October, we’re calling on YOU—our families, staff, alumni, and community—to share how Head Start has made a difference in your life.

Your voice helps show policymakers, leaders, and the public the real impact of Head Start—and why these programs must stay strong for the children and families who rely on them.

📢 Right now, your story is especially important as changes are being considered that could affect Head Start programs nationwide. We need decision-makers to hear directly from YOU.

👉 Not sure what to say? Share a memory, a moment, or even a short quote—it all matters.

🗓️ Submit by September 30, 2026 at https://bit.ly/HS-story

💬 Share your and help us show why Head Start matters.

𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗧

08/24/2026

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁!
Check out our library at https://bit.ly/4vVZipD

𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲—𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 - Gain tools and strategies to lead your team through change, ensuring stability, engagement, and a future of success.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Oct. 7, 2026 at 10:00 am PT

𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙩𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥: 𝙁𝘼𝟭 – 𝙁𝘼𝟮 𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 - Master the tools, strategies, and confidence your team needs to prepare for FA1 and FA2 monitoring reviews.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Oct. 20-21, 2026 at (1:00-4:00 pm on Oct. 20 and 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PT on Oct. 21) OR Dec. 15-16, 2026 at 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PT. 3 hours each day

𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝: Building Meaningful Connections with Families and Communities - Explore practical Relationship Marketing strategies that deepen family engagement, strengthen community partnerships, and support meaningful outreach.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM (PT) to Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM (PT)

𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙀𝘼 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 - Strengthen monitoring practices, improve eligibility determination, align recruitment with community needs, and proactively address attendance challenges.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Nov. 16 at 9:00 am – 10:30 am PT, OR Feb. 22-23, 2026 at 9:00 am – 10:30 am PT. (1.5 hours each day)

𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩: 𝘼.𝙄. 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 & 𝘾𝙤𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 -Strengthen monitoring practices, improve eligibility determination, align recruitment with community needs, and proactively address attendance challenges.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Sept. through Dec. 2026. First session on-demand; live sessions begin Sept. 24.
Individual sessions are also available for purchase
Head Start Data Camp - Build a stronger understanding of how to use data to support your Head Start program. Participants will explore key data concepts, the TMPO framework, and continuous quality improvement strategies to strengthen program practices and outcomes.
When: Thursday, Sept. 17 and Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, 8:30 am–11:30 am PT each day

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘀!
𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, in Partnership with California Head Start Collaboration Office – Perfect for Head Start educators, home visitors, health and mental health staff, ERSEA staff, managers and directors, homeless liaisons, county office of education homeless coordinators who want to learn how to share McKinney-Vento implementation with Head Start partners.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Friday, Sept. 11, 2026 at 1:00 - 2:30 pm PT

𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 – For home visitors, center-based staff, teachers, father engagement specialists, family service workers, family engagement coordinators, supervisors, managers, coaches, directors, and anyone having conversations with caregivers and families
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 at 3:00 pm PT

08/21/2026

𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂!

Today, we invite you to take 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 to discover The Head Start California Story—a look at where we began, the work we do today, and the people and purpose behind it all.

For more than 30 years, Head Start California has stood alongside Head Start programs across our state through advocacy, professional development, networking, and collaboration.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. As the Head Start community responds to a proposed rule that, if passed, would change Head Start standards and the way programs operate, we are fighting to protect the strength and quality of Head Start. This is exactly why we are here—as an association, we bring our community together and make sure the voice of California’s Head Start programs is heard.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲—and the 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 that continues to i𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4zsWJOv

We hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch, share, and celebrate the Head Start California story with us.

❤️ 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲,
The Head Start California Team

08/20/2026

08/20/2026

Calling All Experts, Advocates & Innovators! 🎤

Do you have a great idea, practical strategy, research, or tool to share with the Head Start community? We want to hear from you!

📣 Submit a proposal for HSC’s upcoming events:

🌟 Health Institute | Nov. 4–6, 2026 | Costa Mesa
Deadline: Sept. 14 — only 3 weeks left!

🌟 Annual Conference: Parent & Family Engagement + Education | Feb. 8–10, 2027 | Universal City
Deadline: Nov. 13

🌟 Managers & Directors Institute | May 10–11, 2027 | Costa Mesa
Deadline: Feb. 15

We’re looking for engaging, practical sessions that reflect the diverse experiences and needs of Head Start staff and families.

👉 Share your expertise. Inspire your peers. Strengthen the field.

https://bit.ly/3TCSHPT

08/20/2026

🩺 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀!
Kick off your 2026 Health Institute with a powerful Pre-Institute training designed for both new and experienced health professionals.

📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
⏰ 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
📍 Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa

Go beyond regulations and dive into the 𝟱 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀:
✔️ Regulations
✔️ Policies & Practices
✔️ Data
✔️ Resources
✔️ Partnerships

Connect with peers across California, share insights, and explore proposed changes to Head Start standards impacting 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆, 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

💡 Open to all—no need to be registered for the full conference!

Start strong—add the Pre-Institute to your experience!

👉 https://bit.ly/HSC-HI26

08/20/2026

The CACFP Roundtable's 35th Annual CACFP Conference lands in Coronado, CA this October, bringing together providers, educators, sponsors, advocates, and agency leaders from across the country.

Expect hands-on workshops, expert keynotes, and real conversation on where the CACFP field is headed next.

🗓️ October 26-28, 2026
📍 Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado, CA
🎟️ Registration is open!

Register today: https://bit.ly/4wIqNTQ

08/19/2026

Build confidence. Create common ground. Use data with purpose. 📊

Head Start programs collect a lot of data. Head Start Data Camp helps you make sense of it, communicate it clearly, and use it to strengthen your program—no advanced data skills required!

Join us Sept. 17–18 for practical strategies to ask better questions, build shared understanding, and connect data to continuous improvement.

🎓 Certificate of Completion + Digital Badge + 0.6 IACET CEUs
💻 8:30–11:30 a.m. PT each day
💰 HSC Members: $449 with code HSCDC

Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/4fSG3IK

When your team understands the data, everyone benefits.