Partnerships & Activities
The Wisconsin Head Start Collaboration (HSCO) works closely with individual and organizational partners on issues concerning early childhood. Examples of HSCO’s collaborative partnerships and activities follow.
Head Start Collaboration Office (HSCO) Collaboration Advisory Committee
The HSCO Collaboration Advisory Committee helps the Director meet organizational objectives outlined by the Head Start Act of 2007 including: building early childhood systems; widening access to comprehensive services and support for low-income children and their families; helping to create partnership agreements and initiatives between Head Start and state programs or agencies to benefit children and families; and, facilitating Head Start involvement in state policies, plans, processes, and decisions affecting the Head Start population and other low-income families. The committee is comprised of representatives from Head Start programs, the Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA), government agencies including the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and non-profit organizations working on behalf of young children and their families in the state. The HSCO Collaboration Advisory Committee meets four times annually to discuss issues and share relevant resources.
Wisconsin Head Start State Partners
The HSCO Director, WHSA, members of Wisconsin’s Training & Technical Assistance Office, and representatives from both the American Indian/Alaska Native and Migrant/Seasonal Training & Technical Assistance Networks meet to strengthen and coordinate roles, responsibilities, and relationship to improve services on behalf of all Wisconsin Head Start programs. The partners meet quarterly when training and technical assistance systems are in place.
Wisconsin Oral Health Partners
The HSCO director, WHSA, and both the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services’ Chief Dental Officer and State Public Health Dental Hygienist meet quarterly to coordinate state level services beneficial to increased access for oral health services for Head Start children and their families. This partnership was integral in the development of guidelines to support fluoride varnish applications for Head Start children. Quarterly meetings of the Oral Health Partners and data gathered through the HSCO Needs Assessment also made clear the need for a forum to bring together a diverse set of community leaders to discuss the oral heath needs of Head Start children in Wisconsin. In 2009, this need led to the Converging Interests: Head Start & Oral Health in Wisconsin–Taking Action to Effect Change! forum. The partners are now engaged in planning and preparing the state launch of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD)/Office of Head Start (OHS) Dental Home Initiative.
Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners (WECCP)
The Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners (WECCP) are a network of Wisconsin communities, agencies, associations, and state government entities working together to build a system of high quality, comprehensive early childhood services for every child and family in the state. Cross-sector collaboration to achieve that end is a major priority of WECCP. The HSCO Director is an active member of WECCP and its State Action Team. WECCP seeks to positively impact the lives of Wisconsin’s young children and their families by improving early care and education, health, mental health, parent education, and family support services at the state, regional, and community levels. The WECCP network of individuals and organizations envision a Wisconsin where all children receive the services and family supports they need to attain their optimal developmental potential during the critical early years of birth through age five.
WECCP is a good source of state-wide resources. Their Homelessness and Poverty: Resources page provides PDF tip sheets and documents, as well as links to useful national and state associations and organizations.
Governor’s Early Childhood Advisory Council on Education and Care
The Wisconsin Early Care and Education Advisory Council is charged to help ensure that all families have access to quality early childhood programs and services. The Council will build on the work of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners (WECCP), the Children’s Trust Fund Board, the Partners for Wisconsin’s Economic Success (PWES), and the Governor’s Birth to Three Interagency Coordinating Council. Early Care and Education Advisory Council members, who were appointed by Governor Doyle, include the HSCO Director, the WHSA Executive Director, and the WHSA Parent Affiliate President. Please visit the Wisconsin Early Care and Education Advisory Council page at the DCF website for Council background information, current initiatives, meeting resources, and additional materials.
For more information about the Wisconsin HSSC achievements and state collaboration highlights, please see the 2007 Annual State Profiles for the Head Start State Collaboration (the most recent profiles available). Wisconsin’s state profile is on page 335.
