TriTAC. EPS. The Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma. A Child Care/Head Start/Public School Partnership Model

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Effective Program Strategies

A Child Care/Head Start/Public School Partnership Model

The Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma

Demographic Information:
The Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma is located in the southwest portion of the state just five miles east of the rural town of Binger, 65 miles west of Oklahoma City. Tribal lands span approximately 2,300 acres and are shared with both the Wichita and Delaware Nations. Roughly 900 out of 4,000 Caddo tribal members live on tribal lands near the Washita River. Approximately 1900 Indian children reside in the Caddo CCDF service area.

Type of Program:
The Tribe operates five centers located throughout Caddo County, three of which are located at different public schools. Two of these centers offer full-day, year round services through a partnership between Head Start and Child Care. The Tribe’s Head Start program is funded to serve 80 children and families; approximately 30 Head Start and Child Care children receive full-day, full-year services through this partnership.

Effective Program Strategy:
The Caddo Tribe has successfully integrated its CCDF and Head Start programs into one program with a single manager. This allows for seamless services that meet the needs of children and families for full-day, year-round care and education. The Tribe has partnered with three public schools to house the Child Care-Head Start classrooms.

Resources:
Funds for the integrated services are provided through the CCDF and Head Start grants. The public schools provide some staffing, transportation, meals, and space.

Results:
The three way partnership has resulted in cost savings and the ability to serve more children and families. The Head Start/Child Care Director says that "everyone is on the same page which is the root cause of this partnership’s success!"

Lessons Learned:
The Tribe has learned that having an "open mind and open door" has been the key to success in working with the public schools. The partners agree that partnering can be done and can be a good experience. Their advice to others is, "Don’t make it harder than it is."

Contact Information:
Kathy Butler
Head Start/CCDF Director

Address:
Caddo Indian Tribe of Oklahoma
P.O. Box 487
Binger, OK 73009

Phone: 405-247-6020
Fax: 405-247-6022

NOTE: If you have information about an Effective Program Strategy in your Tribal community that you would like to share, please contact the Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center (TriTAC) at TriTAC@namsinc.org

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This page was last updated May 28, 2004.