HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02252014 - C.92RECOMMENDATION(S):
ACCEPT and APPROVE Head Start Policy Council Bylaws for the Community Services Bureau as recommended
by the Employment & Human Services Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
BACKGROUND:
This board order accepts the Head Start Policy Council Bylaws for the Community Services Bureau of the
Employment & Human Services Department. Head Start Performance Standards 1304.50(d)(1)(ii) require annual
Board approval of the Bylaws. Changes made to the 2013 Bylaws include a streamlined version of the document with
removed information now included in a supplemental handbook. The Bylaws were reviewed for approval by the
Head Start Policy Council on February 19, 2014.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved, Department will not be in compliance with Head Start regulations.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD
COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 02/25/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYES 4 NOES ____
ABSENT 1 ABSTAIN ____
RECUSE ____
Contact: Kristin Cooke, 313-1793
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of
the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 25, 2014
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc: Kristin Cooke, Cassandra Youngblood
C. 92
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Kathy Gallagher, Employment & Human Services
Date:February 25, 2014
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Approval of Head Start Policy Council Bylaws
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Employment & Human Services Department Community Services Bureau supports three of Contra Costa
County’s community outcomes - Outcome 1: “Children Ready for and Succeeding in School,” Outcome 3:
“Families that are Economically Self-sufficient,” and, Outcome 4: “Families that are Safe, Stable, and Nurturing.”
These outcomes are achieved by offering comprehensive services, including high quality early childhood
education, nutrition, and health services to low-income children throughout Contra Costa County.
ATTACHMENTS
2013 HS Bylaws track changes
2013 HS Bylaws final
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
COMMUNITY SERVICES BUREAU
HEAD START POLICY COUNCIL BY-LAWS
A. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this council is to serve as part of a shared decision making process.
This Community Services Bureau Policy Council (PC) is to serve as the link among
public and private organizations, the Grantee and Delegate Agencies, the
communities served, and the parents of children enrolled. CSB merged many of the
federally funded Head Start and the State funded Child Development programs into
a unified program to better serve more full day, full year families. Consequently, this
council will make decisions affecting the Child Development program. The Policy
Council will assist in the planning and coordination of the Head Start, Early Head
Start, and Child Development programs in the County of Contra Costa in the State
of California.
B. Procedure
The Policy Council and parent committees must use a simplified form of Robert’s
Rules of Order.
C. Duties and Responsibilities
The CSB Policy Council is responsible for the following major functions:
1. General Responsibility - responsible for establishing a method of hearing and
resolving community concerns about the program.
2. Must approve or disapprove actions before they are finalized or actions can be
taken about program changes. The PC must also have been consulted in the
decision-making process prior to the point of seeking approval.
1304.50(d)(1)(i) All funding applications and amendments to funding
applications for Early Head Start and Head Start, including
administrative services, prior to the submission of such
applications to the grantee (in the case of Policy
Committees) or to HHS (in the case of Policy Councils);
1304.50(d)(1)(ii)Procedures describing how the governing body and the
appropriate policy group will implement shared decision-
making;
1304.50(d)(1)(iv)The program’s philosophy and long and short range
program goals and objectives (see 45CFR 1304.51(a) and
45CFR 1305.3 for additional requirements regarding
program planning);
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
1304.50(d)(1)(v)The selection of delegate agencies and their service areas
(this regulation is binding on Policy Councils
exclusively)(see 45 CFR 1301.33 and 45 CFR 1305.3(a)
for additional requirements about delegate agency and
service area selection, respectively);
1304.50(d)(1)(vi)The composition of the Policy Council or the Policy
Committee and the procedures by which policy group
members are chosen;
1304.50(d)(1)(vii)Criteria for defining recruitment, selection, and enrollment
priorities, in accordance with the requirements of 45 CFR
part 1305;
1304.50(d)(1)(viii)The annual self-assessment of the grantee or delegate
agency’s progress in carrying out the programmatic and
fiscal intent of its grant application, including planning or
other actions that may result from the review of the annual
audit and findings from the Federal monitoring review (see
45 CFR 1304.51(I) for additional requirements about the
annual self-assessment);
1304.50(d)(1)(ix)Program Personnel policies and subsequent changes to
those policies, in accordance with 45 CFR 1301.31,
including standards of conduct for program staff
consultants, and volunteers;
1304.50(d)(1)(x)(xi)Decisions to hire or terminate the Early Head Start or
Head Start director of the grantee or delegate agency; and
decisions to hire or terminate any person who works
primarily for the Early Head Start or Head Start program of
the grantee or delegate agency.
3. In addition, the CSB PC shall:
1304.50(d)(2)(I)Serve as a link to the Parent Committees, grantee and
delegate agency governing bodies, public and private
organizations, and the communities they serve;
1304.50(d)(2)(ii)Assist Parent Committees in communicating with parents
enrolled in all program options to ensure that they
understand their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities
in Early Head Start and Head Start to encourage their
participation in the program;
1304.50(d)(2)(iii)Assist Parent Committees in planning, coordinating, and
organizing program activities for parents with the
assistance of staff, and ensuring that funds set aside from
program budgets are used to support parent activities;
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
1304.50(d)(2)(iv)Assist in recruiting volunteer services from parents,
community residents, and community organizations, and
assist in the mobilization of community resources to meet
identified needs; and
1304.50(d)(2)(v)Establish and maintain procedures for working with the
grantee or delegate agency to resolve community
complaints about the program.
The Policy Council will comply with the existing Appendix A requirements and the new
2007 Head Start legislation as guidance is provided. Any changes that will affect bylaws
will be brought to Policy Council for explanation and consideration of approval.
D.General Membership
1304.50(b)(2)Policy Councils and Policy Committees must be comprised
of two types of representatives: parents of currently
enrolled children and community representatives. At least
51 percent of the members of these policy groups must be
the parents of currently enrolled Head Start/Early Head
Start children (see 45 CFR 1306.3(h) for a definition of a
Head Start parent).
1304.50(a)(3)All Policy Councils, Policy Committees, and Parent
Committees must be established as early in the program
year as possible. Grantee Policy Councils and delegate
Policy Committees may not be dissolved until successor
Councils or Committees are elected and seated.
1304.50(a)(4)When a grantee has delegated the entire Head Start
program to one delegate agency, it is not necessary to
have a Policy Committee in addition to a grantee agency
Policy Council.
1304.50(b)(3)Community representatives must be drawn from the local
community: businesses; public or private community,
civic, and professional organizations; and others who are
familiar with resources and services for low-income
children and families, including, for example, the parents
of formerly enrolled children.
1304.50(a)(5)The governing body, (Board of Supervisors) (the group
with legal and fiscal responsibility for administering the
Early Head Start or Head Start program) and the Policy
Council or Policy Committee must not have identical
memberships and functions.
1304.50(b)(5)Policy Councils and Policy Committees must limit the
number of one-year terms any individual may serve on
either body to a combined total of three terms.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
1304.50(b)(I)(6)No grantee or delegate agency staff (or members of their
immediate families) may serve on Policy Councils or Policy
Committees except parents who occasionally substitute for
regular Early Head Start or Head Start staff. In the case of
Tribal grantees, this exclusion applies only to Tribal staff
who work in areas directly related to or which directly
impact upon any Early Head Start or Head Start
administrative, fiscal or programmatic issues.
1304.50(b)(1)(7)Parents of children currently enrolled in all program
options must be proportionately represented on
established policy groups.
E.Reimbursement
1304.50(f) Policy Council, Policy Committee, and Parent Committee
reimbursement. Grantee and delegate agencies must
enable low-income members to participate fully in their
group responsibilities by providing, if necessary,
reimbursements for reasonable expenses incurred by the
members (i.e. childcare and transportation).
F.Calculation of Reimbursements
Reimbursements are given for approved Policy Council activities only (i.e. monthly
PC meetings or committee meetings). Exceptions must be preapproved before
reimbursements are issued. Mileage is calculated using distance from home to
meeting location. Childcare hours include reasonable travel time to and from
meetings and are based on reasonable arrival time to the approved activity.
Parents requesting reimbursement should complete and submit Form CSB 325 to
the Clerk of the Policy Council who will verify the request and determine the amount
of reimbursement. After approval is received from the CSM for Policy Council, a
check will be issued, no later than 30 days after the request.
G.Voting
Only the official PC representative or, if absent, their alternate will be permitted to
vote on any PC action. The Chairperson votes only in the case of a tie.
H.Members
1. Composition:
Policy Council composition is reviewed annually to ensure that it meets the General
Membership guidelines of HSPS 1304.50(b)(2). Consideration is given to the
number of Head Start and Early Head Start currently enrolled children, along with
program options (Full Day, Part Day, and Home Base). The following steps explain
the determination of PC composition:
Determine total number of Head Start and Early Head Start slots.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
Based on current slot map, determine the total HS/EHS slots for each site by
program options (HS/Full Day, HS/Part Day, EHS/FD, and Home Base (EHS/HS
collectively). Calculate the percentage of each program option (multiply the
number of program option slots for each site by the total number of slots). This
will give you the percentage of membership that each option should represent.
The percentage of membership for currently enrolled families is multiplied by the
total number of currently enrolled representatives (based on 1 PC representative for
every 60 HS/EHS slot per site calculation). Using the formula 1/60, the number of
currently enrolled representatives is set at 39. The following table reflects the
breakdown of currently enrolled families by program option:
Head Start Part Day 29% 9 Representatives
Head Start Full Day 50% 13 Representatives
Early Head Start 17 %5 Representatives
Home Based Option 4%1 Representative
2. Procedures for Electing Community Representatives to the Policy Council:
Community representatives are drawn from the local community. They are made up
of past parents and representatives from local community agencies. All Community
Representatives must be elected by the policy council. Membership for Individual
Community Representatives is also limited to 3 one-year terms (1304.50(b)(5).
Past Parent Community Representatives
The past parent representatives must submit a letter to the Policy Council requesting
consideration to be a community representative. Letters are read during a business
meeting, and the Policy Council must vote to approve the parent’s request. If the
Policy Council receives more requests than vacancies, all letters are read for
consideration, and the Policy Council votes, and the majority decision rules.
Community Agency Representatives
The Policy Council determines which community agencies they would like to invite to
participate on the Council. Agencies are drawn from the local community and are
familiar with resources and services for low-income children and families. CSB Staff
to Policy Council assists by contacting agencies to seek interest in joining and
request the name of an agency representative to be elected onto the policy council
as early in the program year as possible. Agency Representatives are presented
and considered for approval by the policy council.
3.Terms of Membership
The term is for one year, October-September. Members must be elected each year
for a maximum of three years. Members are expected to serve the entire term, even
if their center closes for the summer. The three-year term limit applies to all primary
and alternate representatives listed on the PC Roster as a center representative at
any time during the term.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
All PC representatives are required to complete the Form-700 and Video Viewing
Certification within sixty (60) days of their appointment to the Council.
No Community Services Bureau staff (or members of their immediate family) may
serve on the Policy Council, except parents who occasionally (no more than 10
hours a month) substitute for regular Early Head Start or Head Start staff.
Immediate family is defined as; any parent, child, sibling, grandparent, significant
other, co-parent or spouse of Community Services Bureau staff.
Terms of Resignation
If a Member resigns their position in the Policy Council or is no longer eligible to
serve due to enrollment status, the member must submit resignation in writing and
submit the notice to Early Head Start or Head Start staff. A new member must then
be elected to ensure proper representation of the program. If the resignee is an
Executive Officer or a Chair of a standing committee, the vacancy shall be filled by
appointment of the Chairperson for the unexpired term for the specific vacancy and
approved by the Policy Council.
Termination of Membership
A member may be terminated by a 2/3 vote at any regular meeting for reasons of
misconduct or excessive absenteeism. If the termination is in regards to excessive
absenteeism, this vote will take place only after a notice has been sent to the
member’s center (see By-Law K,6) and the center has provided a response as to the
course of action they would like to take regarding this matter. The termination must
be properly agendized in compliance with the Brown Act and the Contra Costa
County Better Government Ordinance and any other applicable local, state or
federal regulations. The member will be notified in writing of their termination from
the PC. If the termination of membership is due to a change in enrollment status or
withdrawal from program, please refer to guidance under Terms of Resignation.
Who are the Officers?
Executive Committee: The officers are elected annually at the PC meeting in
October. Their role is to participate in the planning of the general meetings; review
previous month’s minutes, set the agenda, and help in the overall planning along
with staff. The Executive also conducts business in emergency matters or if a
majority of the members cannot meet. A quorum of 51% of current Executive
Committee members, excluding vacancies, will be required to make a program
decision on behalf of the general membership. In this case, all Executive Committee
decisions must be ratified by the full body of the CSB PC at the next regularly
scheduled meeting.
Executive officers shall attend all PC and Executive Committee meetings. No more
than three absences from the PC and Executive Committee meetings for the entire
term will be allowed. Exceptions to this rule will be handled on a case-by-case basis
by the Chairperson.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
Officers will be the official representatives to conferences. Alternates will be
appointed as needed.
Each officer must be an active member, Chair or Vice-Chair of at least one
committee.
Chairperson: The Chairperson shall be the directing officer of the Council and
shall preside at all Policy Council meetings. He/she has the authority to call
special meetings, maintain order, appoint chairperson of ad-hoc committees and
recognize members, staff and visitors who wish to speak and make official
written communications. In the Chairperson’s absence, the Vice-chairperson
may represent the Executive Committee. The Chairperson is a voting member
of all committees.
The Vice-Chairperson: The Vice-chairperson shall perform duties as the
Chairperson of the PC may designate. In the absence of the Chairperson, the
Vice-chairperson shall perform all of the duties of the Chairperson.
Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for PC sign-ins at the monthly PC
meetings and monitor attendance via the sign-in sheets. The Secretary shall
declare whether a quorum exists by analyzing the sign-in sheets at the beginning
of each meeting. The Secretary shall monitor attendance and inform the
Chairperson when intervention is necessary. He/she shall read any
correspondence at PC meetings. He/she shall check for any corrections or
clarification on previous month’s minutes, and seek approval of minutes. The
Secretary shall also prepare minutes of the meeting and ensure that the meeting
is recorded. Staff assistance shall be provided as needed.
Parliamentarian: The Parliamentarian shall assist the Chairperson in maintaining
order in the meetings and for ensuring that Robert’s Rules of Order are followed.
He/she shall state and review the Ground Rules at PC meetings. He/she shall
know and enforce the Brown Act and the Contra Costa County Better
Government Ordinance. He/she shall act as timekeeper of the agenda items
and notify the Chair when time is an issue. He/she shall assist with getting the
1st and 2nd motion-maker signatures and return to Secretary. He/she is also the
Chair of the Bylaws subcommittee. Staff assistance shall be provided as needed.
The Executive Committee is responsible for calling all PC Representatives the
night prior to the full-body meeting as a reminder and to ensure quorum is met.
The committee can also assign themselves other tasks or duties that support the
overall planning or coordination as seen fit and that is approved by staff.
Vacancies in office of executive board members or Chair of Standing
Committees shall be filled by appointment of the Chairperson for the unexpired
term for the specific vacancy and approved by the PC. All resignations shall be
submitted to the Chair in writing.
I.PTA Liaison
The PC will elect or appoint a PTA Liaison who will attend the 32nd district PTA
meetings and report back to the full Policy Council.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
J.EOC Liaison
The PC will elect or appoint an EOC Liaison from among the current or approved
past parents. This liaison will attend the CSB Economic Opportunity Council
meetings and report back to the full Policy Council.
K.Officer Elections
The following procedures shall govern PC officer elections:
1. The general membership shall elect a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary
and Parliamentarian from among current Head Start parents and/or approved
past parents on the Policy Council.
2. Nominations for the officers shall be made by the general membership.
3. No more than two of the officers elected can be past parents of the program.
4. Elections must be by secret ballot. Only PC representatives shall have voting
privileges.
5. Office vacancies may be filled by the PC at any regular meeting.
6. Terms of office: All officers will serve for a term of one year, from October-
September.
L.Meetings
The following procedures shall govern PC meetings:
1. The PC shall hold at least 9 meetings a year. Meetings are scheduled to
encourage parent participation.
2. The Chairperson may call special meetings of the Policy Council. In the case of
a special meeting, twenty-four hour written notice shall be given to all Policy
Council members, unless notice has been appropriately waived.
3. All meetings of the PC and its committees shall be held in accordance with the
Brown Act and the Contra Costa County Better Government Ordinance.
4. The By-laws may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of those present at the
regularly scheduled meeting.
5. PC representatives shall attend all Council meetings. In the absence of a
representative, an alternate shall attend the meeting, thereby ensuring that each
center is represented at all times. Alternates can be any parent from the center
or program option of the elected representative.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
6. If a representative has had two consecutive unexcused absences (unexcused
defined as a representative who is not in attendance, and did not notify Early
Head Start or Head Start staff, or any other Policy Council member or Executive
Officer), the center will be notified and can choose to terminate the
representative and elect a new representative. If the representative resigns, the
center shall elect another representative (must be included in the center parent
meeting minutes); thus ensuring that the center is represented at all times (see
bylaw G, Terms of Resignation). The center must notify the Secretary of the
Council of any changes in representation and, in cases of excessive
absenteeism, provide a response about the course of action they would like to
take (see By Law G,Termination of Membership).
7. The elected representative shall secure an alternate in case she/he cannot
attend the meeting. The representative shall give twenty-four hour notice to an
alternate and the site, unless unforeseen circumstances prevent it. The Site
Supervisors shall ensure that each center is represented.
8. A quorum must be established to conduct a meeting and vote on action items. A
quorum is defined as 25% of the full membership. At least 51% of council
representatives present must be currently enrolled parents.
M.Standing and Ad-Hoc Committee Make-up
The standing committees are: Executive Committee, Fiscal Committee, Self-
Assessment Committee, Personnel/Interview Panel Committee, and Ongoing
Monitoring/Program Services Committee. Ad-Hoc Committees are: By-Laws
Committee and Policies and Procedures Committee. Each committee should
maintain at least four members. All committees must keep minutes, which are to be
shared with the Council. The committee member shall give an oral report at the next
regular PC meeting. The Chairperson must be informed of all meetings and
activities. Staff assistance shall be provided as needed.
N.Conference/ Association Representation
Representatives attending conferences and out-of-area meetings are expected to
attend all possible workshop sessions and general sessions offered. Conference
Summary Sheets must be completed for sessions attended. Upon return
conference attendees will be asked to present a conference summary at the
Executive Committee meeting and to the full Council of what was learned from the
conference/meeting. They will be given a per diem allotment for meals and ground
transportation, and reimbursed for childcare expenses. Liquidation of Cash
Advances requires that all receipts must be submitted to the appropriate PC staff
person no more than 7 days after return from travel.
a. If receipts are not received within the 7 day timeframe, a verbal reminder
will be given via the CSM responsible for Policy Council.
b. If receipts are still not received after 14 days, a certified letter will be sent
to the representative and a copy will be maintained in the CSB PC travel
files.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
c. Failure to return receipts within the allotted time will prevent the
opportunity to attend future conferences and can prevent reimbursement
for other PC activities until the account is settled.
O.Standards of Conduct:
Each year, newly elected Policy Council representatives are required to sign the
County Code of Conduct, mandated for all County advisory and governing bodies
as well as CSB’s Standards of Conduct for business travel. Each member is
required to abide by the codes.
PC representatives, in their role as volunteers with the program, will abide by the
Contra Costa County Community Services Bureau Reporting Policies and
Procedures to Child Protective Services and State Community Licensing.
If a PC member violates the Standards of Conduct, the following may take place:
Member may be temporarily dismissed from their duties while the misconduct is
under investigation.
Investigations of concerns can include interviews or reviews of written reports
regarding the member.
CSB staff and Policy Council Executive Committee will review the nature of the
misconduct and make recommendations to resume membership or consider
approval to terminate membership. Discussions of misconduct will be held in
closed session.
O. Amendments
All actions shall be made by a majority of representatives present. Proposed
amendments of these by-laws may be initiated by action of the PC. Proposed
amendments shall be presented to members, at least one business meeting before
the Council meeting at which they are to be acted upon. Staff shall be responsible
for seeing that the proposed amendments are posted at each center for at least ten
days.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
COMMUNITY SERVICES BUREAU
HEAD START POLICY COUNCIL BY-LAWS
A. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this council is to serve as part of a shared decision making process.
This Community Services Bureau Policy Council (PC) is to serve as the link among
public and private organizations, the Grantee and Delegate Agencies, the
communities served, and the parents of children enrolled. CSB merged many of the
federally funded Head Start and the State funded Child Development programs into
a unified program to better serve more full day, full year families. Consequently, this
council will make decisions affecting the Child Development program. The Policy
Council will assist in the planning and coordination of the Head Start, Early Head
Start, and Child Development programs in the County of Contra Costa in the State
of California.
B. Procedure
The Policy Council and parent committees must use a simplified form of Robert’s
Rules of Order.
C. Duties and Responsibilities
The CSB Policy Council is responsible for the following major functions:
1. General Responsibility - responsible for establishing a method of hearing and
resolving community concerns about the program.
2. Must approve or disapprove actions before they are finalized or actions can be
taken about program changes. The PC must also have been consulted in the
decision-making process prior to the point of seeking approval.
1304.50(d)(1)(i) All funding applications and amendments to funding
applications for Early Head Start and Head Start, including
administrative services, prior to the submission of such
applications to the grantee (in the case of Policy
Committees) or to HHS (in the case of Policy Councils);
1304.50(d)(1)(ii)Procedures describing how the governing body and the
appropriate policy group will implement shared decision-
making;
1304.50(d)(1)(iv)The program’s philosophy and long and short range
program goals and objectives (see 45CFR 1304.51(a) and
45CFR 1305.3 for additional requirements regarding
program planning);
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
1304.50(d)(1)(v)The selection of delegate agencies and their service areas
(this regulation is binding on Policy Councils
exclusively)(see 45 CFR 1301.33 and 45 CFR 1305.3(a)
for additional requirements about delegate agency and
service area selection, respectively);
1304.50(d)(1)(vi)The composition of the Policy Council or the Policy
Committee and the procedures by which policy group
members are chosen;
1304.50(d)(1)(vii)Criteria for defining recruitment, selection, and enrollment
priorities, in accordance with the requirements of 45 CFR
part 1305;
1304.50(d)(1)(viii)The annual self-assessment of the grantee or delegate
agency’s progress in carrying out the programmatic and
fiscal intent of its grant application, including planning or
other actions that may result from the review of the annual
audit and findings from the Federal monitoring review (see
45 CFR 1304.51(I) for additional requirements about the
annual self-assessment);
1304.50(d)(1)(ix)Program Personnel policies and subsequent changes to
those policies, in accordance with 45 CFR 1301.31,
including standards of conduct for program staff
consultants, and volunteers;
1304.50(d)(1)(x)(xi)Decisions to hire or terminate the Early Head Start or
Head Start director of the grantee or delegate agency; and
decisions to hire or terminate any person who works
primarily for the Early Head Start or Head Start program of
the grantee or delegate agency.
3. In addition, the CSB PC shall:
1304.50(d)(2)(I)Serve as a link to the Parent Committees, grantee and
delegate agency governing bodies, public and private
organizations, and the communities they serve;
1304.50(d)(2)(ii)Assist Parent Committees in communicating with parents
enrolled in all program options to ensure that they
understand their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities
in Early Head Start and Head Start to encourage their
participation in the program;
1304.50(d)(2)(iii)Assist Parent Committees in planning, coordinating, and
organizing program activities for parents with the
assistance of staff, and ensuring that funds set aside from
program budgets are used to support parent activities;
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
1304.50(d)(2)(iv)Assist in recruiting volunteer services from parents,
community residents, and community organizations, and
assist in the mobilization of community resources to meet
identified needs; and
1304.50(d)(2)(v)Establish and maintain procedures for working with the
grantee or delegate agency to resolve community
complaints about the program.
The Policy Council will comply with the existing Appendix A requirements and the new
2007 Head Start legislation as guidance is provided. Any changes that will affect bylaws
will be brought to Policy Council for explanation and consideration of approval.
D.General Membership
1304.50(b)(2)Policy Councils and Policy Committees must be comprised
of two types of representatives: parents of currently
enrolled children and community representatives. At least
51 percent of the members of these policy groups must be
the parents of currently enrolled Head Start/Early Head
Start children (see 45 CFR 1306.3(h) for a definition of a
Head Start parent).
1304.50(a)(3)All Policy Councils, Policy Committees, and Parent
Committees must be established as early in the program
year as possible. Grantee Policy Councils and delegate
Policy Committees may not be dissolved until successor
Councils or Committees are elected and seated.
1304.50(a)(4)When a grantee has delegated the entire Head Start
program to one delegate agency, it is not necessary to
have a Policy Committee in addition to a grantee agency
Policy Council.
1304.50(b)(3)Community representatives must be drawn from the local
community: businesses; public or private community,
civic, and professional organizations; and others who are
familiar with resources and services for low-income
children and families, including, for example, the parents
of formerly enrolled children.
1304.50(a)(5)The governing body, (Board of Supervisors) (the group
with legal and fiscal responsibility for administering the
Early Head Start or Head Start program) and the Policy
Council or Policy Committee must not have identical
memberships and functions.
1304.50(b)(5)Policy Councils and Policy Committees must limit the
number of one-year terms any individual may serve on
either body to a combined total of three terms.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
1304.50(b)(I)(6)No grantee or delegate agency staff (or members of their
immediate families) may serve on Policy Councils or Policy
Committees except parents who occasionally substitute for
regular Early Head Start or Head Start staff. In the case of
Tribal grantees, this exclusion applies only to Tribal staff
who work in areas directly related to or which directly
impact upon any Early Head Start or Head Start
administrative, fiscal or programmatic issues.
1304.50(b)(1)(7)Parents of children currently enrolled in all program
options must be proportionately represented on
established policy groups.
E.Reimbursement
1304.50(f) Policy Council, Policy Committee, and Parent Committee
reimbursement. Grantee and delegate agencies must
enable low-income members to participate fully in their
group responsibilities by providing, if necessary,
reimbursements for reasonable expenses incurred by the
members (i.e. childcare and transportation).
F.Calculation of Reimbursements
Reimbursements are given for approved Policy Council activities only (i.e. monthly
PC meetings or committee meetings). Exceptions must be preapproved before
reimbursements are issued. Mileage is calculated using distance from home to
meeting location. Childcare hours include reasonable travel time to and from
meetings and are based on reasonable arrival time to the approved activity.
Parents requesting reimbursement should complete and submit Form CSB 325 to
the Clerk of the Policy Council who will verify the request and determine the amount
of reimbursement. After approval is received from the CSM for Policy Council, a
check will be issued, no later than 30 days after the request.
G.Voting
Only the official PC representative or, if absent, their alternate will be permitted to
vote on any PC action. The Chairperson votes only in the case of a tie.
H.Members
1. Composition:
Policy Council composition is reviewed annually to ensure that it meets the General
Membership guidelines of HSPS 1304.50(b)(2). Consideration is given to the
number of Head Start and Early Head Start currently enrolled children, along with
program options (Full Day, Part Day, and Home Base). The following steps explain
the determination of PC composition:
Determine total number of Head Start and Early Head Start slots.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
Based on current slot map, determine the total HS/EHS slots for each site by
program options (HS/Full Day, HS/Part Day, EHS/FD, and Home Base (EHS/HS
collectively). Calculate the percentage of each program option (multiply the
number of program option slots for each site by the total number of slots). This
will give you the percentage of membership that each option should represent.
The percentage of membership for currently enrolled families is multiplied by the
total number of currently enrolled representatives (based on 1 PC representative for
every 60 HS/EHS slot per site calculation). Using the formula 1/60, the number of
currently enrolled representatives is set at 39. The following table reflects the
breakdown of currently enrolled families by program option:
Head Start Part Day 29% 9 Representatives
Head Start Full Day 50% 13 Representatives
Early Head Start 17 %5 Representatives
Home Based Option 4%1 Representative
2. Procedures for Electing Community Representatives to the Policy Council:
Community representatives are drawn from the local community. They are made up
of past parents and representatives from local community agencies. All Community
Representatives must be elected by the policy council. Membership for Individual
Community Representatives is also limited to 3 one-year terms (1304.50(b)(5).
Past Parent Community Representatives
The past parent representatives must submit a letter to the Policy Council requesting
consideration to be a community representative. Letters are read during a business
meeting, and the Policy Council must vote to approve the parent’s request. If the
Policy Council receives more requests than vacancies, all letters are read for
consideration, and the Policy Council votes, and the majority decision rules.
Community Agency Representatives
The Policy Council determines which community agencies they would like to invite to
participate on the Council. Agencies are drawn from the local community and are
familiar with resources and services for low-income children and families. CSB Staff
to Policy Council assists by contacting agencies to seek interest in joining and
request the name of an agency representative to be elected onto the policy council
as early in the program year as possible. Agency Representatives are presented
and considered for approval by the policy council.
3.Terms of Membership
The term is for one year, October-September. Members must be elected each year
for a maximum of three years. Members are expected to serve the entire term, even
if their center closes for the summer. The three-year term limit applies to all primary
and alternate representatives listed on the PC Roster as a center representative at
any time during the term.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
All PC representatives are required to complete the Form-700 and Video Viewing
Certification within sixty (60) days of their appointment to the Council.
No Community Services Bureau staff (or members of their immediate family) may
serve on the Policy Council, except parents who occasionally (no more than 10
hours a month) substitute for regular Early Head Start or Head Start staff.
Immediate family is defined as; any parent, child, sibling, grandparent, significant
other, co-parent or spouse of Community Services Bureau staff.
Terms of Resignation
If a Member resigns their position in the Policy Council or is no longer eligible to
serve due to enrollment status, the member must submit resignation in writing and
submit the notice to Early Head Start or Head Start staff. A new member must then
be elected to ensure proper representation of the program. If the resignee is an
Executive Officer or a Chair of a standing committee, the vacancy shall be filled by
appointment of the Chairperson for the unexpired term for the specific vacancy and
approved by the Policy Council.
Termination of Membership
A member may be terminated by a 2/3 vote at any regular meeting for reasons of
misconduct or excessive absenteeism. If the termination is in regards to excessive
absenteeism, this vote will take place only after a notice has been sent to the
member’s center (see By-Law K,6) and the center has provided a response as to the
course of action they would like to take regarding this matter. The termination must
be properly agendized in compliance with the Brown Act and the Contra Costa
County Better Government Ordinance and any other applicable local, state or
federal regulations. The member will be notified in writing of their termination from
the PC. If the termination of membership is due to a change in enrollment status or
withdrawal from program, please refer to guidance under Terms of Resignation.
Who are the Officers?
Executive Committee: The officers are elected annually at the PC meeting in
October. Their role is to participate in the planning of the general meetings; review
previous month’s minutes, set the agenda, and help in the overall planning along
with staff. The Executive also conducts business in emergency matters or if a
majority of the members cannot meet. A quorum of 51% of current Executive
Committee members, excluding vacancies, will be required to make a program
decision on behalf of the general membership. In this case, all Executive Committee
decisions must be ratified by the full body of the CSB PC at the next regularly
scheduled meeting.
Executive officers shall attend all PC and Executive Committee meetings. No more
than three absences from the PC and Executive Committee meetings for the entire
term will be allowed. Exceptions to this rule will be handled on a case-by-case basis
by the Chairperson.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
Officers will be the official representatives to conferences. Alternates will be
appointed as needed.
Each officer must be an active member, Chair or Vice-Chair of at least one
committee.
Chairperson: The Chairperson shall be the directing officer of the Council and
shall preside at all Policy Council meetings. He/she has the authority to call
special meetings, maintain order, appoint chairperson of ad-hoc committees and
recognize members, staff and visitors who wish to speak and make official
written communications. In the Chairperson’s absence, the Vice-chairperson
may represent the Executive Committee. The Chairperson is a voting member
of all committees.
The Vice-Chairperson: The Vice-chairperson shall perform duties as the
Chairperson of the PC may designate. In the absence of the Chairperson, the
Vice-chairperson shall perform all of the duties of the Chairperson.
Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for PC sign-ins at the monthly PC
meetings and monitor attendance via the sign-in sheets. The Secretary shall
declare whether a quorum exists by analyzing the sign-in sheets at the beginning
of each meeting. The Secretary shall monitor attendance and inform the
Chairperson when intervention is necessary. He/she shall read any
correspondence at PC meetings. He/she shall check for any corrections or
clarification on previous month’s minutes, and seek approval of minutes. The
Secretary shall also prepare minutes of the meeting and ensure that the meeting
is recorded. Staff assistance shall be provided as needed.
Parliamentarian: The Parliamentarian shall assist the Chairperson in maintaining
order in the meetings and for ensuring that Robert’s Rules of Order are followed.
He/she shall state and review the Ground Rules at PC meetings. He/she shall
know and enforce the Brown Act and the Contra Costa County Better
Government Ordinance. He/she shall act as timekeeper of the agenda items
and notify the Chair when time is an issue. He/she shall assist with getting the
1st and 2nd motion-maker signatures and return to Secretary. He/she is also the
Chair of the Bylaws subcommittee. Staff assistance shall be provided as needed.
The Executive Committee is responsible for calling all PC Representatives the
night prior to the full-body meeting as a reminder and to ensure quorum is met.
The committee can also assign themselves other tasks or duties that support the
overall planning or coordination as seen fit and that is approved by staff.
Vacancies in office of executive board members or Chair of Standing
Committees shall be filled by appointment of the Chairperson for the unexpired
term for the specific vacancy and approved by the PC. All resignations shall be
submitted to the Chair in writing.
I.PTA Liaison
The PC will elect or appoint a PTA Liaison who will attend the 32nd district PTA
meetings and report back to the full Policy Council.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
J.EOC Liaison
The PC will elect or appoint an EOC Liaison from among the current or approved
past parents. This liaison will attend the CSB Economic Opportunity Council
meetings and report back to the full Policy Council.
K.Officer Elections
The following procedures shall govern PC officer elections:
1. The general membership shall elect a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary
and Parliamentarian from among current Head Start parents and/or approved
past parents on the Policy Council.
2. Nominations for the officers shall be made by the general membership.
3. No more than two of the officers elected can be past parents of the program.
4. Elections must be by secret ballot. Only PC representatives shall have voting
privileges.
5. Office vacancies may be filled by the PC at any regular meeting.
6. Terms of office: All officers will serve for a term of one year, from October-
September.
L.Meetings
The following procedures shall govern PC meetings:
1. The PC shall hold at least 9 meetings a year. Meetings are scheduled to
encourage parent participation.
2. The Chairperson may call special meetings of the Policy Council. In the case of
a special meeting, twenty-four hour written notice shall be given to all Policy
Council members, unless notice has been appropriately waived.
3. All meetings of the PC and its committees shall be held in accordance with the
Brown Act and the Contra Costa County Better Government Ordinance.
4. The By-laws may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of those present at the
regularly scheduled meeting.
5. PC representatives shall attend all Council meetings. In the absence of a
representative, an alternate shall attend the meeting, thereby ensuring that each
center is represented at all times. Alternates can be any parent from the center
or program option of the elected representative.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
6. If a representative has had two consecutive unexcused absences (unexcused
defined as a representative who is not in attendance, and did not notify Early
Head Start or Head Start staff, or any other Policy Council member or Executive
Officer), the center will be notified and can choose to terminate the
representative and elect a new representative. If the representative resigns, the
center shall elect another representative (must be included in the center parent
meeting minutes); thus ensuring that the center is represented at all times (see
bylaw G, Terms of Resignation). The center must notify the Secretary of the
Council of any changes in representation and, in cases of excessive
absenteeism, provide a response about the course of action they would like to
take (see By Law G,Termination of Membership).
7. The elected representative shall secure an alternate in case she/he cannot
attend the meeting. The representative shall give twenty-four hour notice to an
alternate and the site, unless unforeseen circumstances prevent it. The Site
Supervisors shall ensure that each center is represented.
8. A quorum must be established to conduct a meeting and vote on action items. A
quorum is defined as 25% of the full membership. At least 51% of council
representatives present must be currently enrolled parents.
M.Standing and Ad-Hoc Committee Make-up
The standing committees are: Executive Committee, Fiscal Committee, Self-
Assessment Committee, Personnel/Interview Panel Committee, and Ongoing
Monitoring/Program Services Committee. Ad-Hoc Committees are: By-Laws
Committee and Policies and Procedures Committee. Each committee should
maintain at least four members. All committees must keep minutes, which are to be
shared with the Council. The committee member shall give an oral report at the next
regular PC meeting. The Chairperson must be informed of all meetings and
activities. Staff assistance shall be provided as needed.
N.Conference/ Association Representation
Representatives attending conferences and out-of-area meetings are expected to
attend all possible workshop sessions and general sessions offered. Conference
Summary Sheets must be completed for sessions attended. Upon return
conference attendees will be asked to present a conference summary at the
Executive Committee meeting and to the full Council of what was learned from the
conference/meeting. They will be given a per diem allotment for meals and ground
transportation, and reimbursed for childcare expenses. Liquidation of Cash
Advances requires that all receipts must be submitted to the appropriate PC staff
person no more than 7 days after return from travel.
a. If receipts are not received within the 7 day timeframe, a verbal reminder
will be given via the CSM responsible for Policy Council.
b. If receipts are still not received after 14 days, a certified letter will be sent
to the representative and a copy will be maintained in the CSB PC travel
files.
Approved by the Policy Council: 9/26/01, 8/15/02, 8/12/03, 9/25/04, 8/17/05, 8/16/06, 8/15/07,
8/20/08, 08/19/09, 8/18/10, 08/17/11, 9/29/12)
c. Failure to return receipts within the allotted time will prevent the
opportunity to attend future conferences and can prevent reimbursement
for other PC activities until the account is settled.
O.Standards of Conduct:
Each year, newly elected Policy Council representatives are required to sign the
County Code of Conduct, mandated for all County advisory and governing bodies
as well as CSB’s Standards of Conduct for business travel. Each member is
required to abide by the codes.
PC representatives, in their role as volunteers with the program, will abide by the
Contra Costa County Community Services Bureau Reporting Policies and
Procedures to Child Protective Services and State Community Licensing.
If a PC member violates the Standards of Conduct, the following may take place:
Member may be temporarily dismissed from their duties while the misconduct is
under investigation.
Investigations of concerns can include interviews or reviews of written reports
regarding the member.
CSB staff and Policy Council Executive Committee will review the nature of the
misconduct and make recommendations to resume membership or consider
approval to terminate membership. Discussions of misconduct will be held in
closed session.
O. Amendments
All actions shall be made by a majority of representatives present. Proposed
amendments of these by-laws may be initiated by action of the PC. Proposed
amendments shall be presented to members, at least one business meeting before
the Council meeting at which they are to be acted upon. Staff shall be responsible
for seeing that the proposed amendments are posted at each center for at least ten
days.