West Central Community Action

09/11/2026

It’s Cy-Hawk week ❤️💛🖤 Our Head Start team had some fun supporting their teams!

09/11/2026

🥫🥫🥫 Help us stock the shelves! Throughout September, Keast Ford is participating in Ford’s Global Food Drive and collecting donations to benefit WCCA’s Shelby County Food Pantry!

We are so grateful to Keast Ford and our community for helping ensure local families have food on the table. Every donation makes a difference! 💛

📍 Donations can be dropped off at Keast Ford in Harlan throughout September.

09/10/2026

Head Start: The Rules and The Playbook

🏈 The Head Start Act is like the Rules of Football

The Head Start Act is the statutory law passed by Congress. It acts as the official rulebook dictated by the league.
✔️Defines the Playing Field: The Act sets the hard boundaries, such as who is eligible to play (e.g., establishing that programs must target low-income families and reserve at least 10% of slots for children with disabilities).
✔️Establishes the League Structure: It outlines the basic legal infrastructure, defining what a "governing body" or "Policy Council" must look like.
✔️Determines Funding & Consequences: Just as a league rulebook dictates salary caps and penalties, the Act governs how federal funds are allocated and outlines when a team risks losing its franchise (recompetition) if they fail to perform.

📋 The Performance Standards are like the Team Playbook

The Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) are the specific, mandatory regulations created by federal agencies to implement the law. They are the coach's playbook detailing exactly how to win within the rules.
✔️Translates Rules into Action: While the rules say you must move the ball downfield, the playbook tells you exactly what route the wide receiver should run. In Head Start, while the Act says you must support child health, the Performance Standards detail the specific timelines for vision screenings, dental checks, and immunization tracking.
✔️Defines Player Formations: The playbook coordinates daily on-the-ground ex*****on, outlining classroom operations, curriculum requirements, child assessment cycles, and family engagement strategies.
✔️Maintains Consistent Quality: Even with recent legislative updates designed to give states and local centers more flexibility in their designs, the playbook ensures that the core quality of ex*****on is maintained across all teams in the league.

On August 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a sweeping Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs”. This proposal targets nearly 80% of current federal regulations. Removing the HSPPS would compromise the quality of Head Start services and create an uneven playing field for our nation's most vulnerable children. The standards ensure that every child, regardless of zip code, receives high-quality education, nutrition, and health services. Every child deserves a fair start in life. We must maintain and protect Head Start Performance Standards to ensure equal opportunity and consistent program quality for all children.

This is a proposed rule, not a final rule. The 60-day public comment window is open in the Federal Register until Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Together for Head Start has provided “A Simple Guide to Submitting a Public Comment” at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BnKPdYNg78QTRDSVHZaQOvrJa-huaFT8/edit Make your voice heard! Protect Head Start!

09/03/2026

🎒✨ First Days of Head Start! ✨🎒

A brand-new school year means new friends, new adventures, new things to learn, and so many memories waiting to be made! 💛

We are so excited to welcome our little learners and their families to Head Start!

Here’s to a wonderful year filled with learning, laughter, friendship, and lots of fun! 🚌🖍️❤️

Welcome to Head Start, little ones! We’re so glad you’re here! 🥰

09/03/2026

08/28/2026

Mission: Possible 🕵️‍♀️ 🚨

Our mission is clear…prepare, connect, grow, and make a difference! ❤️💪🏼

WCCA Head Start staff kicked off the new school year with an unforgettable MISSION POSSIBLE PRESERVICE! From team work and training to laughter and a whole lot of fun, our team came together ready to take on the mission ahead.

Every child. Every family. Every
day.
Our mission is possible because of this team! ⭐️

Here’s to a new year filled with learning, growth, connections, and making a difference!

08/25/2026

Back-to-school season is here and the WCCA Head Start program is still accepting applications and enrolling children today! 🍎✏️📚

If your child is not currently enrolled, now is a great time to see if Head Start could be a good fit for your family. We provide a supportive and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and prepare for kindergarten - all while partnering with families along the way.

Our program is for children ages 6 weeks- 5 years old and expecting mothers.

Reach out to us today to learn more or apply!

📞 1-800-698-5886

🔗 https://www.westcentralca.org/head-start-and-early-head-start

08/03/2026

Huge thank you to Re*****on Seeds for volunteering at our Head Start program and the generous donation to West Central Community Action. We appreciate you!

07/20/2026

We are still taking applications for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers! Visit www.westcentralca.org or call 800-698-5886 today!

07/14/2026

Now Hiring! Apply today at:

https://www.westcentralca.org/careers