Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance (ERSEA) requirements have confused Head Start programs for many years. For some provisions, the language alone is intricate and tricky to understand, but even those rules that appear straightforward can be difficult to implement and apply to real-life situations. This workshop will provide an in-depth examination of the ERSEA requirements, answer frequently asked questions, and discuss approaches to common ERSEA challenges faced by Head Start programs.

Who is included in the "family" and what is "income"?

Income eligibility will be a major focus of the workshop. While the Head Start program recognizes the many family structures that exist in today’s world, doing so complicates the income eligibility determination process because there are so many variations. The workshop will cover key questions related to Head Start eligibility, including:

• Which individuals count as “family”?
• What money counts as “income”?

How do you determine and verify eligibility based on public benefits, homelessness, foster care?

Beyond income, there are other ways to be deemed eligible for Head Start services, especially for children and pregnant women. The workshop will cover other common paths to eligibility and discuss strategies for determining and verifying eligibility under these methods.

Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance

Head Start services must be designed to meet the needs of your community. As a result, how your program structures selection criteria and sets priorities, matters, and must ensure that those families most in need receive services. The workshop will cover:

• Planning a recruitment strategy and who should be involved in the process
• Screening and other deadlines triggered by Head Start enrollment
• Strategies to comply with the Full Enrollment Initiative
• Requirements for monitoring and reporting attendance under the Head Start Performance Standards

What's Included?

• Educational sessions by attorneys with experience in Head Start Compliance, Federal Grant Law, and Family Law 
• Small breakout groups for more personal attention to your specific questions and challenges
• Interactive format to encourage candid discussion of program implementation challenges and successes
• Opportunities to network with colleagues in other Head Start programs
• Electronic course materials available for download