NMSHSA Public Policy Forum Panel Descriptions
MSHS and Head Start Allies
Description: All Head Start programs worked tirelessly to protect families and deliver critical resources to underserved communities during the pandemic, even as many centers were unable to provide in-person services. Head Start’s outstanding performance paved the way for a Universal Pre-K program in Biden’s Build Back Better plan. In this panel, we will recognize the strength and solidarity of the Head Start community, including staff, parents, and volunteers, as well as our Head Start partners. The National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association will be joined by the National Head Start Association and the National Indian Head Start Directors Association to discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead and to celebrate the power of collaboration.
Learning objectives:
- Have participants understand how they are part of a larger HS ecosystem
- Understand key differences between the HS program, while clarifying what opportunities exist for collaboration
Hill Updates/President's Budget
Description: As MSHS advocates, we are often asked to weigh in on the country’s most pertinent and controversial policy issues. As we prepare to take our stories and our requests to the Capitol Hill, we will review the latest policy developments happening in Washington D.C. Our panel of legislative experts will discuss the status of legislation seeking to expand access to childcare and early childhood education programs, as well as upcoming immigration reform bills. Additionally, we will demystify the country’s FY 2023 budget and appropriations cycle. Understanding the policy landscape is crucial to being an effective advocate for our farmworker families.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the basic federal budget and appropriations process and why/how MSHS advocates can have an impact
- Introduce basics around other the most important infrastructure, childcare, and immigration reform bills being considered in Congress; understand how this legislation relates to MSHS programs
- Understand what MSHS grantees can do to advocate for these bills and appropriations requests
Farmworker Advocacy
Description: The devastating COVID-19 pandemic shone a spotlight on our country’s essential workers. Farmworkers in particular are rooted in our country’s success and survival. It is essential that the MSHS community promotes and protects the rights of agricultural workers. MSHS is the only Head Start program with a work requirement and NMSHSA relies on the strong partnerships we have forged with farmworker advocacy organizations. Hear from United Farm Workers Foundation, Justice 4 Migrant Women, and Farmworker Justice on their latest advocacy campaigns to empower farmworkers. Our panelists will cover advocacy efforts to enhance living and working conditions, improve health standards, and secure a safe path to citizenship.
Learning objectives:
- H2-A, wages, labor rights, immigration
- Understand ongoing projects that current advocacy partners are working on
- Understand how to advocate collaboratively with other farmworker organizations
- Understand that NMSHSA is an active, essential part of a larger farmworker community
Childcare/Universal Pre-K
Description: The devastating COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the integral role that early childhood programs, particularly Head Start, play in this country. The CDC praised Head Start programs for effective mitigation strategies to safely reopen centers. When crafting the universal Pre-K proposal in Build Back Better, the Administration again looked to Head Start as the model program to deliver early childhood education and wraparound services. In this panel, policy experts discuss how Head Start anchors the early childhood world. We will also examine the unique ways that farmworker families, another essential part of the workforce, can contribute to the early childhood universe.
Learning objectives: Understand how HS fits into the broader ECE world, especially with reconciliation
- $300 million for farmworker families, $2.5 billion for staff salary increases
- Determine how farmworker families can be a part of the ECE/Universal Pre-K world
- Identify the goals that ECE advocates have for Universal Pre-K and whether they are inclusive of the unique needs of farmworker families
State of Hispanic Education
Description: We know that MSHS is often the first rung on the ladder to success: our programs foster a lifelong love of learning and service. One of the most distinctive characteristics of the MSHS program is that 90% of MSHS families speak a language other than English, with 80% speaking Spanish. Consequently, cultural competency has been built into the MSHS model since its inception in 1969. This panel will explore NMSHSA’s partnerships with Latino advocacy organizations to ensure that MSHS graduates can access educational opportunities, including the full range of post-secondary opportunities. Panelists will also discuss how NMSHSA is building collaboration with the Hispanic Education Coalition.
Learning objectives:
- HEC. Fight for college partnerships
- MSHS is often a child’s ‘launch’ into their education trajectory. Panelists will expand on this topic and explain how this fits into the greater education continuum
- Bring advocates together to learn from each other and to share updates on what each advocacy organization is working on.
- Identify barriers to overcome in different stages of educational opportunity e.g. parent engagement, dual-language instruction.