Community Services for Children

What it reported doing in 2024

Head start/pre-k and early head start of the lehigh valley is our nation's premier provider of developmental and educational services to pregnant women, babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families who are low income and struggle to meet the basic needs of life. We seek out the most vulnerable families, those at or below 100% of poverty, who are struggling with poverty and other socioeconomic challenges. We provide high quality early education and comprehensive family development services. Specifically, our mission is to prepare young children and their families to succeed in learning and life through innovative, comprehensive, leading edge services. Though children enter the program well behind their peers, over 80% of head start/pre-k children exit the program having achieved proficiency in demonstrating progress in all learning domains; social emotional, physical, language, cognitive, literacy, and mathematics; positioning them for a successful academic future. Early head start, 100% of pregnant enrollees delivered a healthy, full term baby. On a daily basis we provide developmental experiences to over 233 pregnant women, infants and toddlers in early head start and over 1000 (head start/pre-k) preschoolers in conjunction with comprehensive health, nutrition, disability services, and family services to them as well. This year over 1,100 children and families received in person and vital early education services on a variety of schedules. Families participating in the program had monthly group activity opportunities as well as either weekly (early head start) or monthly (head start) home visits. We ensure that each child has all early and preventive health screenings and immunizations and receives at least 1/2 to 2/3 of their daily nutritional requirements. One hundred percent (100%) of all children achieved positive health status by obtaining all their needed screenings, and 97.5% of children this year were up to date on all age-appropriate immunizations. Oral health is also significant with 91% of all children receiving preventive dental care. Twenty-one percent (21%) of head start children, and 44% of early head start-safestart children had disabilities, yet 100% of these children with special learning needs received therapeutic intervention. Those children with health conditions, such as anemia, asthma, vision or failure to thrive were able to receive all needed treatment. We provide transportation services to over 220 children daily to and from the children's homes. Parents are an integral part of the program, as we work in full partnership. We assist parents to identify their goals for themselves and for their children, and support in reaching those goals. This year, 96% of families developed an individual goal plan and 99% participated in home visits. We provide parent training, parent involvement opportunities, and vital community linkages to other social service agencies that can benefit the family. Over 1,300 referrals were made to community providers for emergency assistance, food, housing, domestic violence, and child care assistance. The head start and early head start program has maintained its accreditation status by naeyc and its accreditation by the middle state association commission for grades infant through four. In addition, the head start/early head start program is designated as a program of excellence by the national head start association.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 96.9%; rating input score 97
• Program expense ratio: 97.7%; rating input score 98
• Fundraising efficiency: $796.49 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 69.2%; rating input score 69; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 0.8%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.23; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.69; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 0.8%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16.6% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 14.5% per year; rating input score 100; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.4% per year; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings