On February 14th, 2024, Head Start staff, parents, and community supporters joined Massachusetts Head Start Association for our annual Advocacy Day at the State House in Boston, MA. The Great Hall of Flags was filled with Head Start love…..

Head Start provides high quality early education and comprehensive services, which includes mental health. With mental health being such a key component to a person’s ability to succeed, it is important to see how Head Start is addressing mental health from educators and staff to children and their families.

MHSA submits public comment in response to Office of Head Start Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM): Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming.

Absent new federal funds, Massachusetts Head Start programs cannot pay teachers what they deserve and keep the lights on in all of their classrooms. Thank you to WBUR 90.9 FM for highlighting the incredible work Head Start does and our call for Congress to #FulfillThePromise.

This month, Massachusetts Head Start Association provided written testimony to the Joint Committee on Education in support of H.489 and S.301: An Act providing affordable and accessible high quality early education and care to promote child development and well-being and support the economy in the Commonwealth.

Governor Healey reduced by $1 million funding for Head Start State Supplemental Grants in the Massachusetts FY24 budget, slashing lifeline funds for hardworking and burnt out Head Start teachers, staff, and programs.

The Commonwealth Children’s Fund has recently provided an incredible opportunity for Massachusetts Head Start Association by granting immediate funding for strategic growth.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today that it will be awarding $15 million in FY2024, providing support to tackle challenges such as the workforce and the mental health crisis many are facing today.

Anat Weisenfreund, Director of Head Start and Early Learning Programs at Community Action Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts, will be testifying at a US Senate Committee on the economic and financial impacts of the federal debt limit crisis.

February 14, 2023, Head Start staff, parents, and community supports joined Massachusetts Head Start Association for our annual Advocacy Day at the State House in Boston, MA.

Head Start champions Senator Warren and Congresswoman Pressley will be bringing two members of our Head Start community to President Biden’s State of the Union address on February 7, 2023

2022 presented our Head Start programs with unforeseen challenges entering the third year of the pandemic and a workforce crisis.

On January 26, 2022, the National Head Start Association awarded Rep. Clark (MA-5) with the 2022 Head Start Pledge Award for her steadfast commitment to Head Start.

MHSA Executive Director Michelle Haimowitz was proud to serve as a member of the Special Legislative Early Education and Care Economic Review Commission. The Commission released its final report on March 14, 2022.

We at MHSA have been working on a new Strategic Plan since January of this year. We are thrilled to share an overview of that plan. If this works speaks to you, check out how you can join us in our mission.