The Arkansas Head Start State Collaboration Office plays an important role in helping our state make progress in improving the lives of young children and families.  The Collaboration Office assists with relevant state initiatives and brings the support and perspective of Head Start to the development of a comprehensive early childhood system in Arkansas.

These partnerships:

• Help build early childhood systems and access to comprehensive services for all low-income children;
• Encourage widespread collaboration between Head Start and other appropriate programs, services, initiatives, and augment Head Start’s capacity to be a partner in state initiatives on behalf of children and families; and
• Facilitate the involvement of Head Start in the development of state policies, plans, processes and decisions affecting the Head Start target population and other low-income families.

The following purposes of the Head Start State Collaboration Office are defined in Public Law 110-134 "Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007":

(i) assist Head Start agencies to collaborate with entities involved in State and local planning processes to better meet the needs of low-income children from birth to school entry, and their families;

(ii) assist Head Start agencies to coordinate activities with the State agency responsible for administering the State program carried out under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) and entities providing resource and referral services in the State, to make full-working-day and full calendar year services available to children;

(iii) promote alignment of curricula used in Head Start programs and continuity of services with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and, as appropriate, State early learning standards;

(iv) promote better linkages between Head Start agencies and other child and family agencies, including agencies that provide health, mental health, or family services, or other child or family supportive services, such as services provided under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.); and

(v) carry out the activities of the State Director of Head Start Collaboration authorized by law