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Policy

Early Head Start staff are responsible for facilitating the transition process from Early Head Start into Head Start or other high quality programs and support services. A smooth transition is important to ensure each child continues to receive enriching early child development services and each family continues to receive the support services necessary to promote healthy family development.

To ensure the most appropriate placement and services following participation in Early Head Start, transition planning must take place for each child and family at least six months prior to the child’s third birthday.

The process must take into account; the child’s health status and developmental level, progress made by the child and family while in Early Head Start, current and changing family circumstances, and the availability of Head Start and other child development services in the community.

Procedure

  1. The Head Teacher/ Home Visitor initiates the transition process at least 6 months prior to each child’s 3rd birthday for each child on their case load. 
  2. As appropriate, a child may remain in Early Head Start, following their third birthday, for additional months until he or she can transition into Head Start or another program. 
  3. The Head Teacher/Home Visitor opens the “EHS Transition” Event in the Education Domain of ChildPlus and completes the  items listed within the event. Event items include information about other service providers involved with the family and Head Start model options. 
    1. Throughout the transition planning it is important to maintain partnership with the family. The EHS Family Transition Plan, part of the “EHS Transition Event,” will be completed in partnership with parents and any other service providers involved with the child and/or parents, including health care providers, DHS, Early Childhood CARES, mental health providers.  
      1. If family will be transitioning to a program outside of Head Start, team will coordinate and share information with receiving program as needed. 
  4. Head Teacher/Home Visitor notifies EHS Support Staff and ERSEA Manager that the EHS Transition Plan section  of the EHS Transition Event in the Education Domain of ChildPlus is complete approximately 60 days prior to the transition. 
  5. ERSEA staff will process and document eligibility for the EHS transition to Head Start in the Enrollment Domain of Child Plus in the Eligibility section of the Enrollment tab. The eligibility note will also be copied to the EHS Transition event in the Education Domain. 
  6. ERSEA staff will email EHS staff and the Regional Assistant (RA) and Regional Manager (RM) for the receiving region to inform them that EHS transition eligibility is complete. 
  7. RA and appropriate team members for receiving region will coordinate with EHS staff about transition needs before contacting the family to ensure accurate and consistent communication with the family. 
  8. RA for receiving region will contact the family to offer placement.  
  9. RA email EHS staff confirmation that the family has accepted placement or information that the family has declined placement. 
    1. If the family has accepted placement after the beginning of the program year, the email to EHS staff will include the start date in the new classroom. Start date will take into account individualized needs such as a transition meeting or classroom good-bye day. 
    2. If the family has declined placement, EHS staff will reach out to the family to redetermine placement needs. 
  10. When appropriate, EHS staff will schedule and complete a transition meeting with the receiving teaching team to share important information and coordinate transition planning.  
  11. If there are Special Diet or Medical concerns, the Teacher/Home Visitor will notify the appropriate receiving RM, Food Services Manager, and/or Health Consultant prior to the child’s transition into a new Head Start classroom.  
  12. Arrange a goodbye day for the child in the current classroom and a visit to the receiving classroom if appropriate.  
  13. Update ChildPlus within seven days of the child’s last day of attendance. 

This meets Performance Standards, Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations: 1302.70 

Approved by Policy Council October 2012. April 2018. January 2023
Updated: March 2018. December 2023

  1. Head Start of Lane County

 REVIEWED: December 2022