Head Start Healthy Start is a campaign to increase the number of children and families served by Head Start and Early Head Start by securing additional funding from the state legislature. The Head Start Healthy Start campaign includes educating legislators about the benefits of Head Start and Early Head Start at the Statehouse and in local communities. It also includes development of legislation and lobbying. The Head Start Healthy Start campaign works with local program staff and participants to build strong support from legislators across Idaho.

Head Start Healthy Start Outstanding Advocates

Head Start/Early Head Start parents from across Idaho were recognized as Outstanding Advocates of 2019 at the IHSA Conference. These parents were presented a certificate in recognition of their advocacy on behalf of the children and families of Head Start. CONGRATULATIONS!

Friends of Children and Families: Donna Austin, Ruth Calnon, Kristin Trombley, Kristina McGaha, Jim Tooman, Rochelle Hendricks, Luz Tolentino

Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership: Miguel Hernandez, Jeremy Ball, Will Empey, Joeff Buchholz

Community Council of Idaho Migrant Seasonal: Karla Pineda, Ramona Felix, Erika Barba

North Idaho College: Cassie Rester, Dixie Reed, Joy Fryman, Denise Jennings

Western Idaho Community Action Partnership: Katy Salazar, Amos Smiley, Amber Goodenough

College of Southern Idaho: Whitney Teeter, David T. Rockwell

Mountain States Early Head Start: Kendra Bartlett

Alumni: Marcela Calderon, William Strength

Head Start Healthy Start is hard at work!

• Idaho Head Start programs are serving children and families during the Covid-19 pandemic, often times providing essential childcare, food, housing assistance and wellness services in addition to school readiness activities. Local journalist Steve Stuebner has profiled Head Start staff, parents, children and alumni in a series of inspiring articles. You can read them here.

• More than 50 advocates visited 35 legislators during the 2020 Idaho legislative session. Many visits took place during Head Start at the Statehouse on February 5, but local advocates also made special visits to the Statehouse to meet with key legislators.

• 18 people attended the Head Start Healthy Start Advocacy Training in Boise on December 6 and visited with Representative Melissa Wintrow, Senator Fred Martin and Senator Lori Den Hartog.

• Hosted the Head Start Puts Idaho to Work presentation on December 12 in Twin Falls with College of Southern Idaho Head Start and CCI-Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. Watch the video on the IHSA Facebook page.

• Hosted the Engaged Dads and Successful Kids presentation on November 12 in Idaho Falls with EICAP and CCI-Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. Watch the video on the IHSA Facebook page. Senator Dave Lent made opening comments.

• Hosted a Strengthening Families and Communities presentation on October 29 in Boise with Friends of Children and Families Head Start. Watch the video on the IHSA Facebook page. Representative Ilana Rubel made opening comments.

• Hosted a Preventing Foster Care: The Early Years Matter presentation on July 23 in Caldwell with WICAP Head Start and CCI-Migrant Seasonal Head Start. Senator Abby Lee made opening remarks. Watch the video on the IHSA Facebook page.

• Hosted a Preventing Foster Care: The Early Years Matter presentation on August 27 in Coeur d'Alene with North Idaho College Head Start and Mountain States Early Head Start. Check out the news story.

• Head Start Keeps Families Together guest opinion by Bill Foxcroft and Evelyn Johnson.

We need parents, alumni, teachers, staff, Board members, social workers and community supporters to send letters to their state legislators.