Head Start Community Program
of Morris County, Inc.
2013-2014
ANNUAL REPORT
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OUR MISSION
The mission of Head Start Community Program of Morris County, Inc. is to promote child development
and school readiness for prenatal through preschool-age children from low-income families,
providing comprehensive services to empower diverse families and strengthen communities.
OUR SERVICES
Head Start Community Program of Morris County, Inc. provides a free program for children and families at two sites in Morris County. The
main facility in Dover houses four double-session Head Start classrooms, eight full-day Head Start classrooms, and three full-day, full-year
Early Head Start classrooms. Through a shared service arrangement with the County of Morris, we also provide three state-of-the-art, fullday Head Start classrooms at Morris View Healthcare Center in Morris Township.
Children from the Dover Public Schools, Wharton Borough Public Schools and Morris School District also receive inclusive preschool services
through collaborative agreements with the Head Start Community Program of Morris County.
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HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING
Morris County Head Start places a strong
emphasis on the overall health and
well-being of the children served. To
protect all children, families and staff, we
adhere to the New Jersey Immunization
Requirements for children in childcare,
in accordance with guidelines of the
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention) / ACIP (Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices). Children without
proof of immunity as defined by the ACIP,
including those with medical and religious
exemptions, may be excluded from the
facility during a vaccine preventable
disease outbreak or threatened outbreak
as determined by the Department of
Health. Head Start families also receive
robust support in locating either free or
low-cost medical and dental care for
their children. Our Health Coordinator
assists them with enrollment and access
through Medicaid or the Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage in
accordance with the Affordable Care Act.
A grant through United Way of Northern
New Jersey provides financial assistance
for co-pays and deductibles. In addition,
we partner with local physicians and
dentists who provide free or low-cost
services for our children. Through these
efforts, 100% of all children and pregnant
women served during the 2013-2014
school year received medical exams. Fully
100% of our children and 67% of pregnant
women also received dental exams.
In order to promote health in the
classroom, all meals and snacks are
planned by a registered dietician and
meet the nutrition standards established
by the Child and Adult Care Food
Program. Children receive nutritious
breakfasts, lunches and snacks, served
in the classroom in a family style setting.
Mealtimes provide a chance to learn
about healthy eating habits, as well as
an opportunity to build all-important
social emotional skills. Teachers sit and
converse with children during meals,
extending children’s language and
vocabulary. Important math and science
learning also takes place at this time,
such as development of one-to-one
correspondence and inquiry skills.
ENROLLMENT
Our Head Start and Early Head Start
Community Programs of Morris County
are predominantly federally funded for
40 children ages 0-3 (16 children ages
0-18 months in a home-based program
and 24 children ages 18 months-3
years in a center-based program) and
197 children ages 3 – 5, along with 8
expectant mothers. During the school
year, some enrollees leave the area and
slots become available to others in need,
so the actual number of individuals
served exceeds the number funded.
Over the course of the 2013-2014 school
year, we served a total of 18 expectant
mothers, 56 Early Head Start children
and 217 Head Start children. Our
average monthly enrollment was 197
Head Start children, 40 Early Head Start
children, and 8 pregnant women, or
100% of our funded enrollment—with a
long waiting list under continual review.
While Head Start programs are
permitted to have 10% of the families
served exceed the Federal income
requirements, less than 7% of the
families who received services from
Morris County Head Start were over
income during this time period—
indicative of the high level of need in the
local community.
Reflecting the demographics of the
community where our centers are
located, 93% of the children served during
the 2013-2014 school year were of Hispanic
heritage. More than 80% of our families
spoke Spanish in the home. The majority
of children entered the program without
the ability to communicate in English, and
by the time they began kindergarten, they
gained the ability to communicate in both
English and Spanish with appropriate
levels of fluency. It is important to note that
a critical risk factor for future educational
difficulties—in addition to poverty—is a
youngster’s status as a dual language
learner (DLL). The term DLL refers to children
who, because of their young age, are
actually learning to communicate in two
languages—a second language, such as
English, and their home language (in the
case of our children, Spanish).
It is estimated that our program serves
just 21% of the Head Start eligible children
in Morris County, based on Unites States
Census Bureau data. In Dover and
Morristown alone, our yearly waiting list for
Head Start and Early Head Start programs
averages 150 children. The urgent need
to expand our programs to reach more of
the area’s most vulnerable, underserved
youngsters has fueled our efforts to add
to program capacity. Currently, efforts
are underway to add a two-classroom
building extension at our Dover site, and
we continue to explore opportunities for
expansion funding.
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FAMILY
ENGAGEMENT
Parents are children’s first and most
important teachers. At the Head
Start Community Program of Morris
County, we actively and intentionally
engage parents, families and the
community in order to support the
positive growth and development
of young children. Family
engagement is promoted through
parent participation in classroom
experiences, home visits, bimonthly
socialization opportunities, and
adult education programs.
Information on parenting and child
development supports parents
in taking an active role in their
children’s early care and education.
In addition, Head Start and Early
Head Start parents and family
caregivers are involved in program
governance and volunteer in many
areas of the program.
Family engagement activities for the
2013-2014 school year included:
■ Parent Orientation
■ Transition Activities
■ Monthly Parent Meetings
■ Monthly Policy Council
Meetings
■ Health Fair
■ Women’s Health Night
■ Parent Education Workshops
■ Parent/Teacher Conferences
SCHOOL READINESS
The years from birth to five mark a critical period of neuroplasticity in the brain, during
which children have maximum potential for learning. Development throughout these
early years occurs within the context of caring and nurturing relationships, providing the
foundation for the behaviors, skills and competencies that support lifelong success. The
Head Start Community Program of Morris County supports young children and families by
providing early, continuous and comprehensive child development and family services.
Educational programming is developmentally appropriate and aligned with the New
Jersey Birth to Three Early Learning Standards adopted by the New Jersey Council for
Young Children, as well as the New Jersey Department of Education Preschool Teaching
and Learning Standards. A research-based curriculum model, The Creative Curriculum, is
used in Early Head Start and Head Start classrooms to prepare children for kindergarten.
The curriculum is based on 38 objectives for development and learning, which are fully
aligned with the School Readiness Goals for Infants and Toddlers in Head Start and with
the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework. School readiness goals
guide our educational efforts, which are focused on the whole child and his/her family.
Five overarching areas of emphasis for children’s school readiness are Social/Emotional
Development, Language Development, Cognitive Development, Approaches to Learning,
and Physical Development.
■ Classroom Activities
■ Field Trips
■ Home Visits
■ Parent-child Group
Socialization Activities (Early
Head Start Home-Based
Program)
■ Take-home Activities to
connect with classroom
learning
■ Adult English-as-a-SecondLanguage Classes
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Social/Emotional Development
For infants and toddlers in the Early Head Start program, school readiness refers to the
developing capacity of children to self-regulate, demonstrate self-confidence, and develop
close, secure personal relationships with adults and peers. Continuing through preschool
years, children in the Head Start program gain all-important self-regulation skills. They
learn to follow directions and how to meet expectations for school routines. They learn how
to make friends, be part of a group, and cooperate with others. Special care is taken to
provide an inviting and supportive learning environment that helps children to succeed, with
a behavioral focus on approaches to learning. Youngsters in the program also learn selfhelp skills. By the end of the school year, most pre-kindergarteners can independently use
the bathroom, dress themselves, help serve their meals and eat unassisted. They also learn
to care for their things and put them away when it is time to transition to another activity.
Social-emotional skills developed during children’s time at Head Start are key building
blocks for success in kindergarten.
Language Development
Cognitive Development
Language development is a top priority in
all Early Head Start and Head Start settings.
Infants and toddlers learn to communicate
their needs effectively as they bond and
build relationships with adults and peers.
In a print-rich environment, young learners
are supported by teachers to engage in
conversations that extend their language
skills and vocabulary. In addition to staff
and peer interactions, preschoolers who
have had minimal exposure to reading
are introduced to the world of books.
High-quality children’s literature provides
a framework for learning the structure
and rhythm of language, and play-based
writing experiences are woven throughout
the children’s day.
Children served by Head Start develop
critical thinking and problem-solving
abilities that will be the foundation for
later school success. Math and science
achievement is directly connected to these
skills. Through play-based activities such
as sorting, classifying, comparing, counting
and making patterns, children learn to
solve problems, conduct inquiries, and
explore logical relationships. Imagination
and creativity are a key part of this process,
and we provide enrichment programs to
emphasize visual and performing arts. The
Jumpstart Caring Capital Program brings
professional artists and performers to
Head Start to work with children, providing
opportunities for artistic expression in small
group settings.
Support for the home language and culture
of children and families is a key element of
language arts learning in our Early Head
Start and Head Start programs. From
infants and toddlers through kindergartenready preschoolers, receptive and
expressive language skills are developed
in children’s home language as well as
their second language through the support
of our bilingual, bicultural staff. Research
is clear on the importance of supporting
children’s home language as a direct
component in their successful acquisition of
a second language. Findings from current
research the language and literacy of dual
language learners—DLLs—highlight the
importance of opportunities for diverse
linguistic interactions in increasing the
likelihood that DLLs will develop strong
language skills in both their first and
second language. At Head Start, effective
instructional practices to serve DLLs are
embedded within the context of ageappropriate classroom routines, handson activities and lessons. Connections
between school, family, and community are
nurtured as our children build language
and communication skills in a bilingual,
multicultural context. Sensitivity to and
support for diversity in culture, ethnicity,
language and learning is woven into the
daily activities and routines of the early
childhood classroom.
Approaches to Learning
Head Start’s support for developmentally
appropriate approaches to learning
nurtures behaviors that foster a lifelong
love of discovery and knowledge. Infants
and toddlers in Early Head Start settings
demonstrate curiosity and explore people
and objects in the environment. Older
toddlers and Head Start preschoolers
show increasing amounts of initiative,
persistence, attentiveness and cooperation
as they “learn how to learn”. Learning
activities for all age groups are play-based
and occur in a context that is consistently
fun, engaging, and culturally responsive.
Physical Development
In our Early Head Start program, infants
may demonstrate progress by sitting
unassisted, crawling, and handling
toys, such as stack rings, with intention.
Toddlers may demonstrate progress by
walking more steadily over time, crouching
and standing, and handling blocks,
markers, and books. Head Start children
learn to gain control of their bodies and
have plentiful opportunities for outdoor
play. Their large muscles develop as
they build gross motor skills during
such activities as balancing, dancing,
jumping, running, kicking, throwing, and
catching. Our youngsters also participate
in developmentally appropriate activities
to build the fine motor skills that will be
necessary for writing to communicate and
using scissors in kindergarten.
Children’s Developmental
Screening & Assessment
All children participating in our Early Head
Start and Head Start programs received
early developmental screening within the
first 45 days of enrollment. The program
uses a nationally approved, researchbased tool: the BRIGANCE Early Childhood
Screen, which enables teachers to identify
potential developmental delays and
giftedness in language, motor, self-help,
social-emotional, and cognitive skills—all in
10–15 minutes per child. Screening results
help identify developmentally appropriate
assessment and instruction for each child,
and are shared with parents. Parents also
provide key input into this process.
Ongoing assessment to guide instructional
planning is part of support for kindergarten
readiness at Morris County Head Start.
Approved by the New Jersey Department
of Education, the Teaching Strategies GOLD
Assessment System helps inform teachers
and parents about what children know
and are able to do. At three checkpoints
during the school year, assessment data is
collected and examined to guide objectives
for development and learning. Twice yearly,
parent-teacher conferences—conducted
in families’ home language—provide an
opportunity for the exchange of information
about children’s progress.
Our inclusive programs serve children
with disabilities in a least-restrictive
educational environment, together with
typically developing youngsters. During
the 2013-2014 school year, 12% of the
children we served had a disability.
Reciprocal relationships with community
partners and service providers, along
with the support of highly qualified staff,
ensure that children with special needs are
identified and appropriately referred for
necessary services. Families are engaged
in helping differently-able children to
succeed, providing input into their child’s
Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) or
Individual Education Plan (IEP). On-site
speech therapy is provided to children with
developmental and speech delays; physical
and occupational therapy is also available.
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
In-kind and community support plays a vital role in the success of the Head Start Community
Program of Morris County each year. We are fortunate to have relationships with many
groups, organizations and individuals who have provided support for our work by
contributing cash or in-kind donations.
2013-2014 Community Partners
GROW NJ KIDS
A Link to Quality
Outcomes
Head Start Community Program
of Morris County is proud to be
participating in the state pilot program
for Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s new
quality rating and improvement system.
It is a system designed to create
universal standards of quality for all
early care and education programs
throughout the state. Based on a quality
rating system aligned with national
Head Start Program Performance
Standards, Grow NJ Kids provides the
framework for programs to continue to
meet high-quality criteria in each of the
following areas:
American Express
Morris County Family Success Center
Atlantic Health System
Anonymous Donors
Morris County Organization
for Hispanic Affairs
AT&T Pick-an-Angel Project
Morris County Republican Committee
Bee Meadow Elementary School
Morris County School of Technology
County College of Morris
Morris School District
County of Morris Board of Chosen
Freeholders
Morris View Healthcare Center
Aaron Dennis
Michael R. Moschella, Design One
Architecture
Dennis C. Miller Associates, Inc.
Nisivoccia Consulting
Dover Fire Department
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Dover Police Department
NJ Commission for the Blind
and Visually Impaired
Dover Public Schools
Dreamscape Foundation
General Dynamics
Gil St. Bernard School
Girl Scouts of Rockaway
Grace Lutheran Church
Grow NJ Kids
Health First New Jersey
Hennion & Walsh
Hewitt Associates Adopt-a-Family Program
Jon Huston, Esq.
Interfaith Food Pantry
Jackson Lewis P.C.
NORWESCAP
NY Life
Roman Oben
Optical Academy
Pajama Program, NJ Chapter
Partnership for Maternal and Child Health
of Northern NJ
Pediatric Dental Associates of Randolph
Pro Bono Partnership
Provident Bank
Mauricio Restrepo, M.D.
Resurrection Parish Samaritans
Jersey Cares
■ Safe, Healthy Learning Environment
Rockaway Townsquare Mall Simon Property Group
Jewish Community Center of MetroWest
Rockline Industries
■ Curriculum and Learning Environment
Suzanne Johnson
Emily Shteinhauz
Johnson and Johnson
Skylands at Randolph
Jumpstart/Caring Capital
Saint Clare’s Health System
■ Workforce/Professional Development
Jason M. Lee, D.D.S., Advanced Cosmetic
& Laser Dentistry
St. Joseph’s Medical Center
■ Administration and Management
Life Church Adopt-a-Family Program
■ Family and Community Engagement
Our participation in the Grow NJ Kids
rating system, which will eventually
be implemented statewide, affords
extensive staff training, with access to
research-based program assessment
and quality improvement tools—
elements of high-quality early care
and education that are best practices,
grounded in research.
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Drew and Kyle Loughran
Louise Washington Foundation
Suzan Mitchell
Maria Luisa de Moreno International
Foundation
Sundance Vacation Network, Inc.
United Way of Northern New Jersey
Wharton Borough Public Schools
Withum Smith + Brown, PC
Rosario Zambrano, M.D.
Zufall Health Center
MONITORING AND FINANCIAL AUDIT
In 2014, Head Start Community Program of Morris County, Inc., received notice of award eligibility for a noncompetitive five-year renewal
grant—a significant achievement that is reflective of the Organization’s long record of successful performance. The 2013 federal monitoring
identified three areas which were addressed as follows:
■ Transition Planning – Program improvements were made to undertake transition planning for each child and family at least six months
prior to the child’s third birthday. The process was revised to take into account the child’s health status, developmental level, family
progress and changing circumstances, and the availability of services at each step in the child’s placement.
■ Center-based Staff – Hiring and screening practices were put in place to ensure that each Early Head Start teacher working with infants
and toddlers has a minimum of an Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.
■ Financial Management Systems – Revisions to the Procurement and Expenditures/Fiscal Policy were approved by the Policy Council and
Board of Trustees, and training for managers and staff was provided. Multiple levels of management approval for purchase orders is
compulsory, and the receiving function is to be carried out by the department ordering goods or services. The revisions to the financial
management system provide effective control over and accountability for all funds, property and other assets.
An independent financial audit is done annually and a copy of the entire audit report is available upon request. Below is a summary of
our financial position and activities from audited financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2014. The Head Start
Community Program of Morris County is predominately funded by government grants. The balance of our funding must be raised from other
sources. It should be noted that federal cutbacks in 2014, known as the Sequester, forced reductions in our program activities.
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEARS ENDED
FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2013
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND 2013
2014
2013
ASSETS
Cash
$ 227,627
Grants and Contracts Receivable
101,357
School District Receivable
49,826
Property and Equipment, net
1,244,460
Total Assets
$ 1,623,270
$
259,851
91,843
42,825
1,242.036
$ 1,636,555
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
Liabilities
Accounts Payable
and Accrued Expenses
Grants and Contracts Payable
Bonds Payable
2014
2013
SUPPORT AND REVENUES:
Grants and Contracts
In-Kind Contributions
Contributions
School District Revenues
Total Support and Revenues
$ 2,286,451
131,818
156,371
174,611
$ 2,428,502
134,869
118,610
192.569
2,749,251
2,874,550
2,404,658
291,367
2,696,025
2,611,747
274,975
2,886,722
53,226
(12,172)
1,038,404
1,050,574
$ 1,091,628
$ 1,038,402
EXPENSES:
$
175,206
17,734
338,642
$
189,194
17,734
391,225
Total Liabilities
531,642
598,153
Net Assets
Unrestricted
Temporarily Restricted
Total Net Assets
988,771
102,857
1,091,628
942,114
96,288
1,038,402
Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 1,623,270
$ 1,636,555
Program Services
Support Services
Total Expenses
Changes in Net Assets
Net Assets, Beginning of Year
Net Assets, End of Year
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Head Start Community Program of Morris County, Inc.
18 Thompson Ave., Dover NJ 07801
973-989-1430
www.headstartmc.org
This report was prepared in compliance with the Head Start Reauthorization Act of 2007, Administrative Requirements
and Standards Sec. 644 [42 U.S.C 0839 (a)(2)]. This report can be viewed on-line at www.headstartmc.org .