Sign up for the WSA Winter Meeting, March 6-8 Olympia

We have a lot planned for the WSA Winter Meeting in Olympia - Agenda will be out in a couple days, registration is open, and this is a good time to contact your legislators to set up meeting and send letters. Here are our 2012 Advocacy goals (ECEAP Funding, Universal Pre-K, and 12-month eligiblity for Working Connections) and click 'more' for the Winter meeting info and links [more...]

News Release - 4000 could be cut from Working Connections

Governor Chris Gregoire is proposing to cut 4,000 families off of the Working Connections Child Care program as part of the budget she unveiled in December. This is a $50 million cut to a program that helped thousands of families move from welfare to work. Two Head Start parents, Bianca Bailey and Nicole Matthews, testified in Olympia Jan. 12. Click to see their testimony and [more...]

News Release - Supercommittee Failure could mean big Head Start Cuts

With the collapse of the deficit-cutting Super Committee, Congress' emergency backup budget-cutting plan now is supposed to take over -- automatic, across-the-board spending reductions of roughly $1 trillion from military and well as domestic government programs. The big federal deficit reductions that are to be triggered by Monday's Super Committee collapse kick in January 2013. [more...]

WSA Board of Directors Openings

We have two WSA Board of Directors openings that will be appointed by our Board President, Connie Mueller - At-Large Staff position, and Early Head Start Staff position. If you are interested, or if you have any recommendations for good candidates, please let us know. Click for more info and application. [more...]

HS/ECEAP/EHS Directors Meeting - Nov 30-Dec 1, Tukwila

There’s a lot going on at both the state and federal level – universal pre-k, subsidy changes and massive budget disruption in Olympia, and more budget shenanigans plus recompetition and a new monitoring protocol for HS/EHS programs. You’ll get to hear all about it at the Directors Meeting! Registration is open and agenda will be emailed [more...]

Come to Olympia to Advocate for ECEAP/HS Families Dec 2!

Legislators will return to Olympia for a Special Legislative Session in late November to balance the state budget. The cuts being proposed now are not only the same cuts we’ve fought in recent years – they are far worse, including health care, food and nutrition, TANF, and more. Because so much is at stake, Children’s Alliance is organizing a special day of advocacy during the Special Legislative Session, on Friday, December 2. Come to the Special Session "Have a Heart for Kids Day" and talk to your legislators! [more...]

News Release - Gov. Gregoire supports ECEAP at 25th Anniversary

With lawmakers returning after Thanksgiving for the special session, decisions will need to be made about which state programs to cut.  That is why WSA is delighted that Governor Gregoire has expressed such strong support for ECEAP, which is celebrating 25 years of providing high quality early learning services to at risk children and families in Washington. Governor Chris Gregoire reiterated her commitment to ECEAP and commended lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for supporting the program . [more...]

Advocacy Alert - Special Session May Mean Cuts for ECEAP

Governor Gregoire has called for a special session to start on November 28th to deal with the $1.4 billion deficit. ECEAP children and families need your help once again. Every member of our community should contact their lawmakers and let them know that it is penny-wise and pound foolish to balance the budget by cutting ECEAP. [more...]

Contact your Congressmen and Senators about Head Start!

Congress is determining Head Start funding now and your help is needed. Please take 2 minutes and send a message to your elected officials! And you can increase our reach by posting the link at supportheadstart.org, to your own Facebook page! [more...]

August 26 - Letter from Executive Director Joel Ryan

Joel has written an update for members, including information about our proposed budget for 2011-12, WSA Strategic Plan, advocacy efforts, and more. [more...]

News Release - Head Start Cuts may be coming / Independent Factcheckers confirm Head Start works

Congress has signaled their intention to make massive cuts to federal spending with the passage of the debt limit deal, and one of their first targets could be Head Start.  According to published reports on the House Appropriations Committee web site, the Labor HHS appropriation will be cut by more than $18 billion—an 11.5% cut, or 1140 children in Washington. At the same time, PolitiFact, a Pulitzer Prize-winning organization, has confirmed that Head Start is an effective investment. [more...]

Head Start/ECEAP Parents Honored by Children's Alliance

Congratulations to four of our fabulous WSA Parent Ambassadors, current and past, who are being honored by the Children's Alliance Voices for Children Awards. Bianca Bailey, Kittitas County Head Start Parent, won the Brewster Denny Rising Advocate Award, and three other parents, John McClure, April Ritter, and Kylee Allen were nominated for their great advocacy work. [more...]

New Just for Parents Newsletter available to print

Our Parent Ambassadors do a regular newsletter especially for parents - click through to get printable copies in both English and Spanish [more...]

We're on Facebook

Yes, we've finally entered the 21st Century, with our own WSA Head Start & ECEAP Facebook page.  Click below and "like" us to get regular updates on issues affecting our families and programs, and notices about upcoming events and training opportunities..

New Toll Free number to contact your Congressman and Senators!

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) has created a toll-free number that can be used to reach your members of Congress. The new, toll-free number is
(888) 622-NHSA (6472). Calling this number will connect you directly to the Capitol Hill Operator, who can then transfer you to your elected officials. [more...]