Author: gburris

A N N U A L R E P O R T

HELPING PEOPLE

2023-2024

CHANGING LIVES

H E A D S T A R T / E A R L Y H E A D S T A R T
COMMUNITY ACTION RESOURCE &
DEVELOPMENT, INC.

Karol May
Executive Director
&
Angela Nerio
Head Start/Early Head Start Director

Our Mission

To bring together resources to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower low-income people to attain the skills, education, and opportunities to become self-sufficient.

ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 947
Claremore, OK 74018
PHONE:
918.341.5000 x 366
WEBSITE:
www.cardheadstart.com

GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA

CARD Head Start/EHS services area include the following counties:
Tulsa county-(Broken Arrow School district), Washington, Nowata, Rogers, Mayes, Wagoner

The chart to the right indicates locations for classrooms; not all classrooms operated during the 2023-24 year.

EHS provides home-based services in BA, Wagoner, Mayes & Rogers counties, and in Washington/Nowata counties as an option change only. Expectant mothers are also served in EHS. Additionally, extended day/year services are offered at all EHS sites except Wagoner, and selected HS sites based upon the family assessments.

COUNTY	SITE	#HS CLASSES	#EHS CLASSES
Wagoner
	Coweta	2	0
	Porter	2	0
	Wagoner	2	1
Mayes
	Pryor Central	2	1
	Pryor South	1	2
ROGERS
	Catoosa Spunky	2	2
	Catoosa Public	4	0
	Claremore	2	0
TULSA
	BA - Southside	7	1
	BA ELC	0	5
WASHINGTON
	Bartlesville East	2	0
	Bartlesville Quapaw	0	2

EHS/HS ELIGIBILITY requirements

The Head Start/EHS program is funded by a Federal grant which contains income guidelines for participation; Head Start programs are required to document family income.

Programs may accept up to 10% of children who have risk factors which indicate a strong need for a school readiness program, but whose families are over federal poverty income limits.
10% of the program’s funded enrollment must be comprised of children who qualify as having a disability.

90% of participants should fall within the following four sections:
1. Family's income meets the federal definition of poverty
or families can meet a qualifying factor, such as:
2. homelessness
3. public assistance (TANF, SSI)
4. foster care
Early Head Start (EHS): 90.73% served (up 0.93% from last year’s 89.8%).
Head Start (HS): 84.45% served (up 0.25% from last year’s 84.2%).

It can be more difficult to secure the “10%” of participants with a disability as Part B providers are inclined to give a child time to
adjust to a new learning environment prior to qualifying for services.
“Over-income” slots are often used to include “high-risk” populations and thus increase the successful service to children who could benefit greatly from comprehensive ECE programming but do not meet the income guidelines.

In summary, families are admitted as income eligible, program eligible or within the “working poor” range of 100%-130%.

EHS/HS ELIGIBILITY DATA

Head Start and Early Head Start families are more alike than different.
However, relatively more EHS children are admitted under foster status, and most years also in homelessness.
This is consistent with state data for this vulnerable population.
Because EHS has fewer funded slots, children with greater stressors will be over-represented relative to HS. Those accepted in “other needs” are often experiencing extraordinary stressors.

ENROLLMENT AT CARD HS/EHS

Enrollment & Number Served
HS funded for 574; served: 521 ( # children enrolled)
EHS-funded for 143; served: 248 (# of children/pregnant women enrolled)
Total number served: 769 Total number eligible: 715 Percent eligible =93%

Enrollment age is calculated based on the public school cut off date for attendance, so there are differences between states in this variable.

Oklahoma has more access to universal Pre-K programs than other states, which impacts the ages of children participating in Head Start.

As compared with the enrollment in HS nationally, CARD’s enrollment has younger children overall.

ENROLLMENT AT CARD HS/EHS

Participation in a program such as Head Start promotes equity.

HS & EHS participants were almost identical in the demographic of race.

Additionally, of those enrolled, about 23% were ethnically Hispanic.

Education & Curricula Key Points

Research-Based and Developmentally Appropriate: The Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) curricula are grounded in scientific research, ensuring they are developmentally appropriate and supported by strong evidence.
Aligned with State Standards: The curricula measure essential domains identified by Head Start and align with the Oklahoma Early Learning Guidelines for Birth through Five.
3. Classroom Curricula:
Head Start (HS): Utilizes Teaching Strategies Creative Curriculum, a research-based program that fosters developmentally appropriate learning.
Early Head Start (EHS): Employs the PITC Curriculum as its primary framework, with Creative Curriculum used as a supplemental resource.
4. Individualized Child Assessments:
The following observation tools directly connect to each child’s unique curriculum to support personalized learning and development.
GOLD is used for ongoing assessment in HS.
DRDP is utilized in EHS.

5. Home Visitor Support:
Home visitors use assessment tools such as DRDP and implement the Florida State University home visiting curriculum, “Partners for a Healthy Ba by,” along with other supporting materials.
6. Parental Involvement:
Parents are actively engaged through tools like GOLD, which provides online access to the curriculum and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to their child’s assessments and educational planning. Additional resources, such as Learning Games, further enhance parental participation.
7. Interest-Based Learning:
Teachers design lesson plans based on the chil- dren’s interests rather than predetermined themes. This flexible approach allows educators to explore children's natural curiosities and foster the "curriculum within" each child.

SCHOOL READINESS

C.A.R.D. Head Start & Early Head Start uses research-based foundational beliefs to plan and engage our families and community partners in our goal for ALL children to enter school ready to learn!

Health and Dental Care: It’s hard to focus and learn when I’m feeling sick, in pain, or if my eyes or ears aren’t working properly!
Nutrition: My brain needs the right fuel to grow and help me learn!
Social and Emotional Health: When I can manage my emotions and stay focused, I’m ready to explore and learn new things!
Healthy Families: When my family is doing well, so am I! Positive parenting gives me the confidence to thrive and learn.
Prenatal Care: Expecting moms can support me before I’m even born by getting dental care, proper nutrition, and regular prenatal checkups.
Engaged and Involved Parents: I feel supported and ready to learn when I know you’re cheering for me every step of the way!
Appropriate Learning Environment: When my teacher and parents know what to teach me, how to teach me, and encourage me to learn independently, I achieve so much more!

“The first five years have so much to do with how the next 80 turn out” - Bill Gates, Sr.

Card Educational assessments

Observation-based tools for ongoing child assessments are linked to each child’s individual curriculum. Head Start uses GOLD as an assessment tool, while Early Head Start uses DRDP.

Assessment Data for Program Insights: At CARD, the DRDP median scores and GOLD academic assessment data indicate steady progression in children’s growth across key domains, including Social & Emotional, Language, Cognition, Physical, and Literacy & Math. The majority of children show consistent improvement, with an increasing number meeting or exceeding expectations as the school year progresses, particularly in the winter and spring.
Areas for Continued Support: GOLD data show that physical development continues to be an area of strength, showing consistent high performance throughout the year. However, a 10% rise in children below expectations in social-emotional development emphasizes the need for targeted support. The implementation of Conscious Discipline strategies will be critical in fostering emotional regulation and social skills, ensuring children are better prepared for school readiness.

Social/Emotional Wellness

What does “social emotional wellness” and “mental health” mean for children from 0-5 years?

For young children, this refers to how well a child develops socially and emotionally. Understanding infant mental health and wellness is the key to preventing and treating such issues for very young children and their families.
It is essential to treat young children’s social emotional issues within the context of their families, homes, and communities. The emotional well-being of young children is directly tied to the functioning of their caregivers and the families. Many Oklahoma families experience great stress. In fact, Oklahoma’s children have the highest Adverse Childhood Experiences scores in the United States. When children have adverse experiences, these experiences literally affect their brain health and their brain structure. There are proven strategies for “buffering” children from these adverse experiences, though! Such services to assist parents in using these strategies for resilience are offered within program.

The single most predictive factor for children’s future school success is social and emotional skills. Managing self-regulation, attention span and making friends are essential skills for future academic performance.

In 2023-24…
102 children were referred within our programs for an IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) evaluation..

Our Special Needs Services

Strength-Based Approach:
Encourages each child's growth by focusing on their special strengths and abilities in an environment where every child's talents can be seen and shine.
Tailored Experiences for Individual Needs:
Creates personalized experiences that fit exactly what each child needs, ensuring that the things they learn match up with how they like to learn and how fast they learn.
Collaborative Support Network:
Works closely with parents to understand their child's needs and goals.
Long-held partnerships with community services offer complete check-ups and assistance.
Developmental Intervention Plans:
Participate in plans that align with the child's growth and development.
Ensures that each child's specific needs are taken care of using plans that have clear goals.

Health Services

Physical Development Emphasis:
Promotes well-rounded physical growth through indoor and outdoor activities.
Offers a variety of play-based exercises to enhance motor skills and overall health.
Nutritional Support:
Provides free and nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and snacks to ensure balanced diets that contribute to overall well-being.
Comprehensive Health Screenings:
Conducts free medical screenings to monitor children's overall health.
Offers free dental screenings and services to promote oral health and hygiene.
Provides free hearing and vision screenings to detect any potential issues early.
Conducts free behavioral screenings to address emotional and psychological well-being.

In 2023-24...

Of HS & EHS, 90% of newly enrolled children received all appropriate screenings within the first 45 days.

410 Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) children who completed a professional oral examination during the program year.

Early Head Start supported the prenatal health and well-being of 15 pregnant mothers.

WHAT DID OUR FAMILIES LOOK LIKE IN 2023-24?

The data show us that about half of our families are led by a single parent, often the mother. & that most parents or guardians have completed a high school education and a smaller proportion with less than high school education.

These insights underscore the importance of providing strong support systems for single-parent families and opportunities for continued education and job training to empower families further.

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT:
Supporting Families Beyond the Classroom

At C.A.R.D., we understand that it’s hard to focus on learning when families are facing challenges at home. That’s why our Family Service Workers (FSWs) play such a vital role. They partner with families to identify goals, address needs, and connect them to valuable community resources.

For families facing significant challenges, our Family Engagement Program steps in to provide meaningful support. By fostering strong connections and offering tailored assistance, we help strengthen families, creating a foundation for success both at home and in the classroom.

Preparing children for future school success is a labor-intensive process which works best when parents and educators are working together. CARD employs many strategies to support parents in this difficult and rewarding work:

Community Connections for Flourishing Families
Encourages caregivers to make healthy choices for their kids by working with and referring to various local services that can help your family's overall success and well-being.
Empowerment: Where Your Goals Find Wings
Empowers families to experience positive changes by defining and achieving goals such as finding a good place to live, getting a job, going to school, active parenting, and more.
Empowering Parental Engagement
Offers opportunities for caregivers to receive expert advice on how to meet developmental needs so parents can support their kids at every stage.
Unlock Insights with Engaging Workshops
Offers classes where parents can learn why their kids act in certain ways. They can join workshops like "Active Parenting," "Circle of Security," and "Infant Massage, “ First Five Years” CPR. Etc. These classes help parents understand their kids better.

HOW DID WE SERVE AND ENGAGE FAMIIES?

in 2023-2024..

Data shows that 95.8% of Head Start and Early Head Start families received at least one social service through our programs in the 2023-2024 program year.

258 fathers out of the 769 total children served showed involvement in EHS/HS child development experiences in the 2023-2024 program year.

In 2023-2024, 473 Head Start families set family goals using their strengths and resources to build a stronger future, such as improving housing, finances, education, jobs, parenting skills, and health.

Through working with our family mentor specialists, home-based educators, and family service representatives, 412 goals were met with Head Start families during the 2023-2024 school year.

Annual Budget, Audits and Federal Review
(2023–2024 data coming soon)

C.A.R.D. undergoes an independent audit for each calendar year; the results for 2022 were without findings.
The last federal monitoring review occurred in September, 2022; the program was notified in December, 2022 of an area of non-compliance (1302.102(d)(1). Specifically, documentation was lacking in the notification to the governing body regarding school readiness and child outcomes data; a corrective plan was implemented and the OHS cleared the non-compliance in May of 2023.
In the fiscal year 2022-23, the Head Start and Early Head Start programs were allocated budget figures that were essential in facilitating their operations. These allocations were critical in supporting the programs' objectives to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and their families. With a focus on promoting the children's educational, emotional, and social well-being, the budget was meticulously planned to ensure that the necessary resources were available for the effective implementation of these programs. This financial planning was instrumental in ensuring that the services offered could meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve, thus playing a significant role in the overall success of the Head Start and Early Head Start initiatives.

Revenue 2022-23
Grant Funds	$9,602,580
CACFP	413,041
State Appropriated Funds	118,794
Childcare	563,394
Donations, other	2,072,838
TOTAL	$12,770,647

Projected Revenue 2023-24
Grant Funds	8,769,288
CACFP	480,702
State Appropriated Funds	119,846
Childcare	338,394
Donations, other	2,192,322
TOTAL	$11,900,552

Expenditures 2022-23
Salaries & fringe	$6,900,198
Child and Adult meals	413,041
Equipment & supplies	1,120,231
Contractual	136,108
Professional Development	72,402
Other	1,373,641
TOTAL	$10,015,621

Projected Expenditures 2023-24	8331961
Salaries & fringe	$7,533,237
Child and Adult meals	480,702
Equipment & supplies	211,159
Contractual	84,346
Professional Development	106,863
Other	833,683
TOTAL	$9,249,990