South Platte Sentinel Wednesday, May 13, 2015 Page 26

Iliff Community Center, Inc./Head StartHead Start Annual Report 2014

Mission:Iliff Community Center, Inc./Head Start is to develop and provide quality, integrated, compre-hensive early childhood development programs which offer a broad range of services and respond to the needs of eligible young children and their families for the purpose of preparing them for success in school and life.

Fiscal Year 2014Federal Head Start Grant PA 22: $680,659.00

PA 20: $13,018.00 Non-Federal Share: $173,419.00Additional Funding 2014

Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation: $1,000.00 TANF: $20,000.00 Child Adult Care Food Program: $35,215.00

Budgetary Expenditures for Fiscal Year Personnel Salaries & Fringe Benefi ts $460,907 (from all funding sources)

Total Program Expenses—$236,7709.00Total number of 67 children served at 100% throughout the program year

100% enrollment monthly, 69% income eligible children served, 22%-100-130% over poverty guidelines . 9% over-income of poverty guidelines.

AuditDuring May 2014 an independent audit was conducted on Iliff Community Center, Inc./

Head Start for the year ended January 2014 and there were no fi ndings.Qualistar

Iliff Community Center, Inc./Head Start participated in the Qualistar Rating process in January and scored 3 stars out of 4 stars. Funding provided by Race to the Top Dollars - $4,000.00.

Child Care LicenseColorado Department of Human Services Division Of Child Care inspected the Iliff Community Center, Inc./Head Start on Dec. 1, 2014. There were four fi ndings: 1. Two (2) electrical outlets in room four (4) which did not have protective covers. 2. Reviewed 26 staff fi les and one employee was missing a Central Registry Clearance letter. 3. Reviewed twenty-six (26) staff fi les, one (1) employee was missing a CBI Clearance on CBI staff list in CCCLs. The staff fi le did have the fi ngerprint card on fi le. 4. Observed twenty-seven (27) children, ages three (3) and to fi ve (5) years old in one group in gym. All fi ndings have been corrected.

Program Information ReportMedical Exams: 2014 -100% 2013 -108% Dental Exams: 2014 -100% 2013 -107%

Parent Involvement ActivitiesA variety of ways parents at our program volunteered were by: participating in the classroom, helping with the Scholastic book order, attending parent meetings and setting up a variety of training (dental care, legal services, play therapy, child development), volunteering at the center and serving on Policy Council, setting child & family goals with teachers, parents and managers, and working together on follow-up. The program has a Fatherhood group that has planned different activities in the past few years. Some of the activities have been fi eld trips to the fi re department, move gravel on playground, creating a variety of activities for children, building a school bus for the classroom, volunteering in the classroom with their child.

2014 On-Site ReviewOn Nov. 12, 2014 the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) conducted an Environ-mental Health and Safety reveiw event for the Iliff Community Center, Inc. Head Start program and was out of compliance in three areas. They were: Classroom two and four did not have an exit sign above each door leading to outside. The playground had a curved ladder and fi reman's pole/ladder which stood 5 feet, 6 inches off the ground and should not be higher than 60 inches. A review of CRC's found a contracted bus driver hired Aug. 11, 2014 completed a CRC Oct. 6, 2014. A review of a Nov. 12, 2014 letter from RE-1 Valley School District Human Resources confi rmed the employee was hired prior to the grantee obtaining a CRC. A review of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation report further confi rmed the CRC was obtained late. There were three concerns: 1 - Two classrooms did not have at least one exit leading directly to the outside. 2 - The fi re alarm system was not connected to the smoke-detector system. The fi re alarm system did not use both audio and visual signals when activated. 3. - One bus inspected was missing a reverse beeper.

School ReadinessSchool Readiness: Teaching Strategies GOLD is the tracking tool to monitor children’s growth in all areas. 2014-2015 school year the Comparative Report showed growth in all areas. The 3 year olds also showed signifi cant progress in this area of development along with signifi cant growth in the Physical domain area. Both the 3 year olds and 4 year olds showed growth in language, Literacy, Math and Cognitive. In the area of cognitive development both the 3 year olds and 4 year olds struggled but maintained a level above the lower level of the Widely Held Expectation. •Increased Social/Emotional Skills-the Widely Held Expectation is 690 for 4 years olds and Iliff Head Start was 647.3 •Increased Physical skills-Widely Held Expectation in 698 for 4 year olds and Iliff Head Start had 645.9 •Collaboration-among educational staff •Good support system •Staff Development •Family In-Kind Goals documented and turned back to program •A team of Iliff Head Start personnel and RE-1 School District collaborating on what chil-dren need to know before attending Kindergarten and what Iliff Head Start can work on while attending preschool.

Transition Process in and out of Program The transition program was developed to ease the transition for children into or out of Iliff Com-munity Center, Inc./Head Start. During this process Iliff Head Start personnel collaborate with parents, public school districts and specialist to implement the transition process. The process involves communication, planning and implementing the plan. The center continues the yearly Kindergarten transition and transition of children entering Head Start process with parents and school districts (RE-1 Valley, Merino, Fleming, Peetz and St. Anthony) by the following: •A contract agreement on the transition process •Inform school districts of children’s progress •An orientation of their new environment by visiting their new classroom at IHS & schools •An opportunity to meet teachers, principals and other staff through a school open house •An opportunity to pre-register their children for entrance to Head Start or Kindergarten •School district and Head Start schedule transition meetings for all children on an Individual Education Plan. •Follow-up on children that have moved on through the second grade to see progress of children • Provide information on resources in the community •A meeting is held with the Kindergarten teachers and Head Start staff to discuss the Head Start children that will be transitioning to Kindergarten. •A summary outcome report is given to each Kindergarten of each child entering their school.

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Health

Mental Matters By Dr. Jennifer Goble

Heart Of Health

Sterling Regional MedCenter

Avoid behavior attached to undesirable traits Jeff Haden, using the brand of “Infl uencer,” in an online blog cleverly described 10 people to avoid. I found the titles fun and the message especially appropriate for graduates.Blingers Let your personality defi ne who you are - not your possessions or accomplishments. People might like your things or your power, but that does not mean they like you. Be yourself, and put less energy into impressing others.Clingers Stand tall and take independent risks. Insecurity and fear is a weak crutch. Absence of fear does not make one happy – it most likely means that one is static and missing out on self-development.Whiners Complainers are draining and annoying. Talk about solutions and improvements. Friends don’t let friends whine, friends encourage change and improvement. Blamers Take responsibility for your actions

before you point the accusing fi nger. Mental health does not come from hanging out with people who blame you or others for their problems or behavior.Interrupters Be polite not rude; speak only when someone else fi nishes. Listening shows care and respect. Interrupting implies that what you have to say is more important than what the other person is sharing.Controllers The only person you can control is YOU. Controlling means you consider yourself smarter, more capable, and more important than others. A bully is a controller; using

fear, authority or pressure.Criticizers Criticize others only when you are perfect, and that is impossible. Instead, teach with compassion. Differences are not shortcomings – they are only differences; what makes us unique.Preachers Remember the saying, “I only asked the time, not how to build the clock.” Having someone polite enough to listen does not make rambling, repetition, or bragging desirable.Dwellers Forgive and forget; let the past go. Ruminating on events you can do nothing about is a waste of YOU. Learn from mistakes, don’t do them again, and let it go!Fearers Everyone has fear, but it doesn’t need to be debilitating. Few dreams are achieved without fear. Be courageous - don’t let fear stop you. Be smart, plan, and try new ways. Jeff Haden used catchy words

to describe undesirable traits. Graduates, as you choose life on your own, his 10 characteristics might be worth remembering. Until the next time: Live while you live!

(Jennifer Goble, Ph.D. is a Licensed Professional Coun-selor. Check out her book, My Clients … My Teachers and her weekly blog at www.jennifergoble.com.)

Respiratory allergies are caused by things you inhale, the most com-mon being pollen, house dust, animal dander and mold. Keeping these irritants under control in your house involves both cleaning the indoor air and keeping the outdoor air out. Tips to stay allergy free include: •Keep your windows closed •Install air conditioning or an air cleaner with a special HEPA fi lter. Use a vacuum with the same HEPA fi lter •Air condition your car •If your symptoms occur mainly during damp weather, ventilate your house to keep moisture down •Buy a dehumidifi er •Use fungicides on humid areas such as bathroom and basement walls. A bleach solution of ¾ cup per gallon works in most situations •Keep pets outside. If that’s not possible, keep pets out of your bedroom at all times •Wear a face mask when vacuum-ing, sweeping or gardening, or hire someone to do these chores •Avoid smoking and ask others not to smoke in your house •Stay away from aerosol sprays, perfumes, room deodorizers, clean-

ing products and other substances that seem to worsen your symptoms •Encase your mattress and pillows in plastic, or get synthetic pillows and mattress pads that are washable and wash them frequently in hot water •Get rid of carpets, rugs and heavy drapes. Use washable throw rugs and curtains

•Treat your allergies. There are new, effective treatments ranging from over-the-counter antihistamines to immunotherapy (allergy shots). Ask your healthcare provider for advice •Limit the time you spend outside during days with high amounts of pollen, dust, smoke or smog in the air •Clean bathroom and kitchen surfaces often with bleach to reduce mold growth. (For more information about this, or other Wellness Programs at Sterling Regional MedCenter, contact Wellness Manager Glenda Amen at 521-3260.)

Try to keep environment irritant free