Policy Number: HS-ERSEA	Effective Date: 3/18/2005	Relates to: CFR #1305.5
Revision Date: 12/8/2004 3/3/2005 1/22/2008	Approved by PPC 3/3/2005, 1/18/2008

SUBJECT: Recruitment of children

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE: ATCAA Head Start maintains an active, year-round recruitment program designed to reach families with Head Start eligible children.

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE:

1. The Program Director and the Parent Policy Council determine the recruitment area, based on the Community Assessment, targeting areas with the greatest need for services and largest number of Head Start eligible children.
2. The Family Service Manager develops and implements a yearly recruitment outreach schedule to ensure full enrollment during the program year.

1.      All direct service staff participate in recruitment and record their efforts on the Recruitment Form Documentation.

2.      Family Advocates and Home Visitors are assigned geographical areas to recruit.

3.      The recruitment team consists of Family Services Manager, Management team, Family Advocates, Home Visitors, Teachers, and parents.

4.      A recruitment binder will be located at each site. The binder will include policy and procedures, flyers, recruitment maps, door hangers, recruitment contact forms, recruitment tips, income guidelines, applications and other items as necessary for recruitment. ( Recruitment maps can be made at: http://maps.yahoo.com/.)

5.      The recruitment process will include the following:

o        Canvassing the local community

o        News releases and advertising in local newspapers at least four times per year.

o        Advertising on cable access TV.

o        Radio community talk shows and Public Service Announcements at least twice a year.

o        Encourage referrals from community agencies such as Child Welfare and County Schools special education, homeless and transitional housing programs.

o        Encourage referrals from private agencies such as Foster Care Agencies.

o        Distributing posters and flies in businesses, libraries, apartment complexes, and schools

o        Assisting families in filling out the application at sites and in the home.

o        Assisting families in obtaining needed documents to complete the application form.

o        The recruitment team will make monthly presentation to public and private sectors informing them of the benefits of the program.

o        ATCAA ECS will set up recruitment booths at community events such as ICES Children’s Fair, Red Ribbon Week, Kindergarten Registration and local events in designated geographical area.

 6.    All staff will be trained on how to assist parents/guardians completing applications.

7.      The Family Service Manager coordinates focused recruitment activities in March and again in July and August to ensure full enrollment by the start of the program year.

8.      The Family Service Manager coordinates a focused outreach effort in January to fill enrollment losses that may have occurred during the holidays

9.      The Family Services Manager provides training for staff and parents, on recruitment of children at least 2 times per year, at staff trainings.

10.  All recruitment activities will be documented on the Recruitment Form, initialed by the supervisor and sent to the Family Services Manager in the Monthly Report.