June 21, 2005, Hillsboro, OR - A recent comprehensive audit of Community Action Head Start/Early Head Start has found the program to be in full compliance with 1700 federal requirements. The audit, conducted every three years, took place during the week of April 17th. Community Action Head Start/Early Head Start serves 646 low-income children and their families across Washington County. The program is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
“Our excellence has been confirmed by the review,” Community Action Head Start program Director Marilyn Harrison announced to staff. “All of our services - education, family support, parent involvement, food and nutrition, health, disabilities, transportation - were found to be in full compliance,” Harrison said.
Auditors use words such as “beautiful” to describe enrollment and childcare feeding files for the publicly funded program. Harrison said the review team leader told her “she wished she could give an A+.” Community Action Head Start's management systems, including governance, fiscal, recordkeeping and reporting, communication, self-assessment and human resources, were all found to be strong and in full compliance. Minor findings were corrected immediately.
The team of auditors recommends official recognition of Community Action Head Start for strengths found in community partnerships and communications. Community partners say Community Action helps improve the way other social service agencies work. Auditors found exemplary processes for communication with families, as well asin Head Start policy council. Innovations are improving socialization and learning for pre-school children, creating new opportunities for parents to develop better skills. The Coffee Creek Correctional Center Superintendent told auditors that the center's relationship with the Head Start program has made a “significant impact on law enforcement and the judicial system in the state.”
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