Partnership Profile: Onondaga, New York
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While every partnership looks different, there are several existing models that can serve as a guide.
This profile focuses on Onondaga Community College and People’s Equal Action and Community Action Commission in Onondaga, New York. In this partnership, Head Start subcontracts to a community college to provide services on campus.
Subcontracting Head Start services to the community college
Some community colleges may choose to operate their on-campus early childhood education program themselves as a subcontractor of the Head Start program for a certain number of slots. The college may serve non-Head Start children as well by blending and braiding funding sources. In this model, the community college is responsible for running the program and the Head Start program enrolls the children which are provided service at the community college.
Fast Facts
Head Start website: https://www.peace-caa.org/programs/hs/
College numbers: 15,374 total students (6,024 full-time and 9,350 part-time)
Child Development Center capacity: 82 slots
Head Start slots: 10 children and 10 Early Head Start slots
Partnership Overview:
Onondaga Community College (OCC) operates a state-licensed child development center on their campus called the Children’s Learning Center. Within this center, there are 20 funded slots from the People’s Equal Action and Community Action Commission (PEACE) Head Start and Early Head Start program.
These Head Start slots are reserved for children of students enrolled on campus, and the college has funds dedicated to subsidizing the costs to parents if there are any financial concerns. Additional early learning slots at the on-campus center are available to faculty and staff.
OCC operates the Children’s Learning Center all year round.
College students at OCC use the center for early childhood practicum work.
Head Start Operations
While OCC is fully responsible for operating the Children’s Learning Center, including the 20 slots enrolled in Head Start, PEACE provides a nurse and a family service worker to work with the Head Start and Early Head Start families enrolled there. PEACE also provides guidance and supervision for certain Head Start-specific services. For example, PEACE provides a manager to supervise all of the health and family engagement staff; child development specialists who monitor the education services; and a registered dietician who advises on the meals provided by the center.
The Details
PEACE provides OCC with a monthly cost-per child fee to offset their costs. For Early Head Start slots, this amount is provided year-round; for Head Start slots, the amount is only provided during the school year. For Head Start children who need care over the summer, parents must pay privately or seek subsidy.
PEACE and OCC meet monthly and have a very detailed contract. For example, OCC begins the registration process, but Head Start verifies eligibility and completes the enrollment and intake process. PEACE provides some supplies, such as fluoride toothpaste, diapers, wipes, and consumable materials, while the rest are covered under the monthly payments to the college.
In accordance with Head Start standards, OCC implements home visits, conducts screenings and assessments, and maintains attendance in PEACE’s systems, but PEACE pays for them to have access to the relevant tools and systems. Finally, PEACE maintains governance responsibilities, but encourages a representative from the OCC center to sit on the program’s policy council.
Benefits and Strengths:
Families who are not eligible for Head Start can still be served on campus
Expanded hours and flexible schedules, can be made available to meet family needs, particularly if the college has funds for students to use
Variety of services and funding sources can improve enrollment
Head Start provides supplemental dollars to the college to help with operational costs
Challenges:
Head Start has less control over the program and it can be more difficult to monitor
The subcontract and budgeting process is quite complicated and can be challenging
The college’s bureaucracy comes into play, which can be particularly difficult when there is a change of leadership