GULF COAST COMMUNITY SERVICES ASSOCIATION Head Start/Early Head Start Support Services Monthly Narrative January 2026 LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES: ▪
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) The December 2025 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) claim was completed and submitted to the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) for reimbursement. In December there were 15 food service days for the month. There were 13 eligible sites and 1,209 eligible children. The number of meals provided: 4,266 breakfasts; 4,364 lunches and 13,683 PM snacks served. Expected reimbursement for the month is $49,214.16. Two of our newest Head Start centers will apply for CACFP pending receipt of the Child Care License, DeAnda & Reynolds.
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Region IV Site Visit – Ms. Veronica Howard, Regional Program Specialist, Child Nutrition, conducted a visit to the corporate office this month and also completed a site visit at Richey Head Start. Her review indicated that the program was in compliance in all areas. She did note one recommendation: the cook should include the quantity of meals served to children with special diets in the daily documentation. ▪January Story Time – Mr. Donato Hunter, Jr., Head Start & Early Head Start Family Support Specialist, served as the guest reader for GCCSA’s January Story Time. He read I Am Brave: A Little Book About Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. Mr. Hunter shared the story of Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting the character traits—such as courage, leadership, and determination—that made him a transformative Civil Rights leader. The children and staff thoroughly enjoyed the engaging and inspiring presentation. ▪CACFP Administrative Review – The Texas Department of Agriculture has scheduled the CACFP Administrative Review for March 17–20. The purpose of the on-site review is to assess compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations. The program test month is November 2025. The selected test sites are Pasadena Head Start, Richey Head Start, and Early Head Start. ▪ChildBuilders 2026 Distinguished Partner Award – Gulf Coast Community Services Association was honored by ChildBuilders with the 2026 Distinguished Partner Award. Staff attended ChildBuilders’ Annual Celebration & Wine Tasting this month to accept the award, which recognizes school champions and community partners dedicated to children’s safety and well-being. GCCSA has partnered with ChildBuilders for several years to strengthen children’s awareness of personal safety, danger recognition, and protective measures. Other 2026 award recipients included: ▪ Barbara Cockrell Elementary, Pearland Independent School District – Outstanding School Award ▪ Amigo Por Vida Friends for Life Charter School – Inspiring Educator Award
A link to the ChildBuilders website is included for your review: Celebration and Wine Tasting | ChildBuilders ▪
The GCCSA team continue to plan for an exciting literacy event for children and their families to be held in May. They also continue to prepare for the upcoming Head Start FA2 review.
January 2026 Monthly Report
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