Another Successful Dental Day

SEK-CAP Head Start takes an inovative approach toward meeting Head Start Performance Standards for dental care services to enrolled children each year by conducting their Annual Dental Day.  Partnering dental professionals from throughout their twelve county service area reserve this day in service to children and families by delivering high-quality care in nurturing and child-friendly environments.  Dental Day is a positive experience for everyone as expressed in the photographs and through the smiles of the children and caring dental partners!

Home Visitors from across the state came to Heartland Programs in Salina to participate in Kansas Basic Home Visitation Training.  This five-day training, held August 4-8, was the first quarterly training to be hosted by Kansas Head Start Association.  A second Basic training is scheduled for January, and Advanced Home Visitation Training sessions are planned for this fall and next spring.

Thanks to funding from partners at SRS and the work of the state-wide Home Visitation Training Team, KHSA is offering this training to all home visitors in Kansas, including Head Start, Early Head Start, Parents As Teachers, Healthy Families, Healthy Start, and all other organizations serving young children and families.

"This is a phenomenal home visitation training curriculum...Inclusive, performance-based materials with a variety of relevant, excellent materials." - Comment from training evaluations

In February 2007, The Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation (TLLCCF) announced that Teri Aldrich, a preschool teacher at Heartland Programs in Salina, Kansas was selected to receive the Foundation’s top honor – the Helene Marks Award™ as the National Child Care Teacher of the Year™. Aldrich was one of the top ten scorers for the Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s TYLENOL® National Child Care Teacher Awards™, and was invited to answer an additional essay question to qualify for the top honor. Aldrich received her award formally at the awards ceremony on April 9, 2008 in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The combined award for both honors was $2,000, a portion of which will benefit Heartland Programs.

Aldrich initiated her career in early childhood education when she began working as a full time paraeducator for Heartland Programs. After working for 3 ½ years, Kansas State University offered Aldrich the opportunity to return to college. She began working on her Early Childhood Degree in January 1998 while working full time with Heartland Programs. She was later able to student teach in the same room where she had worked as a paraeducator.