Partnership Profile: Manchester, New Hampshire
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While every partnership looks different, there are several existing models that can serve as a guide.
This profile focuses on Manchester Community College and Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc. in Manchester, New Hampshire. In this partnership, Head Start is embedded within an existing child development center on campus.
Head Start embedded within an existing child development center on campus
Some community colleges already have an active child development center or a “lab” school on campus, and the Head Start program uses space within this existing site. In this situation, Head Start runs the program independently, but in coordination with the center.
Fast Facts
Head Start website: https://www.snhs.org/services/head-start-early-head-start
College numbers: 8,988 total students (2,920 full-time and 6,068 part-time)
Child Development Center capacity: 20 slots (with flexibility for part time and drop-in care)
Head Start slots: 14 children
Partnership Overview:
Manchester Community College (MCC) has a tuition-based, on-campus child development program that is run by an outside private vendor. Non-Head Start families either pay privately or apply for state scholarship dollars to help fund their tuition. The center is available to all, including community members, but prioritizes students, faculty, and staff.
The MCC child development center operates in a secure section of the main building on the campus. In return for MCC providing the building, their students are allowed to use it as a lab school. MCC students in early childhood, nursing, psychology, physical therapy, and more, are able to access the center for student observation and practical experience.
There are a total of three classrooms in the child development center. Two run by the outside private vendor and one run by Head Start. The non-Head Start classrooms provide full-day, full-year services for children six-weeks through five-years-old.
Retrofit and Start-Up
Because MCC originally built the center specifically as a child development space, there were no additional expenditures needed to meet Head Start requirements when the partnership began.
Head Start Operations
Head Start operates its classroom independently from the other two classrooms. Head Start is responsible for its own programming, enrollment, and staffing.
The Head Start classroom operates part-day services on a school-year calendar, serving preschoolers aged three- to five-years-old. If a family needs more service hours than Head Start provides, a child can sometimes be dually enrolled and receive care in the other classroom before or after Head Start hours and can apply for state scholarship to apply towards tuition. In addition, if the childcare has an opening, drop-in care may be available.
The Details
Head Start pays MCC a minimal cost per month for their classroom space, office space, storage space, and access to MCC’s nature-based outdoor classroom. MCC also provides janitorial services, plowing, parking, and facility repairs as needed.
Benefits and Strengths:
The building was already established as a licensed child development center, so Head Start was able to easily slide into the classroom without any need for retrofitting or construction.
The arrangement between MCC and Head Start is fairly simple, as Head Start operates their classroom independently from the rest of the center.
MCC students get practical exposure to two different program operation types, different populations, and curriculum.
Families have access to a variety of service options because there are two programs operating in one space.
Challenges:
The college calendar and Head Start calendar don’t sync. However, the non-Head Start classrooms can provide support for families outside of Head Start hours when needed.
It can be confusing for parents to have multiple programs in the same building, especially when it comes to eligibility and funding streams.