The LBJ Community Action Agency seeking letters of interest from residents across 12 counties to serve as community representatives on its Head Start Policy Council.
Program Operations Manager Katie Rogers said the agency accepts letters of recommendation annually so that members can be elected to serve a one-year term. Rogers said these representatives act as advisors and reviewers who provide essential input on financial policies and agency procedures before any actions are approved.
“One of the biggest things that we do at Head Start is serve our community,” Rogers said. “So not just the children that come in our doors, but we have family services at all of our locations. And to be able to serve the children and families in most need, we need information of the community for where we can meet and reach those needs.”
Rogers said the council relies on these members to provide specific information about local needs that may have changed due to shifts in job availability or population. Rogers said this feedback directly informs a community assessment that the agency updates every year to ensure it is reaching as many eligible children as possible.
“They help inform us on what’s going on in the community because maybe our, you know, areas have changed and we serve 12 counties, so they help us to get that information together from a wide range of where we service,” Rogers said.
Rogers said the representatives help the agency maintain long-term partnerships and memorandums of understanding with various health and utility providers. Rogers said these connections include organizations such as Access Behavioral Health and Mental Health, as well as food service and utility assistance programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
“They help us get connected not just with the people who need them, but with new services we may not be aware of that are coming up in the community that we could help our families get in touch with,” Rogers said.
Rogers said the application process requires a short letter of recommendation that functions similarly to a resume by outlining a candidate’s qualifications and interest in Head Start. Rogers said the current Policy Council then reviews these letters during its first meeting to vote on and affirm the new community representatives.
“Based on what you tell us in the letter, kind of like a resume, what your qualifications are or why you care about Head Start, maybe some community things you’re a part of or how you’re able to tie into your community, then that helps the policy council to know who’s going to be the most beneficial representative for us during this year to help us serve families and children as best as we possibly can,” Rogers said.
Rogers said the agency looks for individuals who have a love for early education and a desire to see children in need receive school readiness support. Rogers said the council works alongside parent representatives from each of the 12 counties to ensure services are individualized rather than following a standardized process.
“We want to serve our families in the way that they need to be served and what they want,” Rogers said. “We can’t assume that for them and we want to meet their needs that maybe we don’t know about or wouldn’t see. It’s not just a standardized process for every single family, it’s individualized so that we meet the real needs that they have.”
Rogers said the Board of Directors and the Policy Council serve as the governing bodies that approve all procedures in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards. Rogers said these groups are vital because they ensure the agency is operating in the best interest of the people it serves.
“They’re vital to us,” Rogers said. “All of our governing bodies, the Board of Directors and the Policy Council, they inform and approve all of our policies and procedures. So after discussion, after input and changes, they are the ones who are making sure that we’re serving the community the way that we’re supposed to be in accordance with Head Start Performance Standards but also in the best interest of the people that we serve.”
Rogers said interested residents can find more information about local centers and volunteer opportunities on the agency website.