MHSA Governance

The Michigan Head Start Association is governed by a 23 member Board of Directors composed of 10 parents, 5 directors, 5 staff, and 3 board members at-large and represents its members at the state, Region IV, and national levels.

As members of MHSA. Grantee Head Start/Early Head Start Programs:
• Pay membership dues once a year.
• Send a delegation to the Assembly (decision-making body of the MHSA): director, staff person, and two parents (the two largest Grantees are authorized to have an additional parent representative).  The Assembly meets three times a year (January, May and October).
• Delegate agencies serving 300 or more children are eligible to join as voting members.
• Friend (non-voting) members include past MHSA member; past local Head Start Program Director; past enrolled child; past or current local Head Start program staff or parent; consultant; vendor; member of another organization or the general public.

The Assembly
• The Assembly members are responsible for selecting the Board of Directors, serving on the MHSA committees, and voting on issues before the MHSA.
• There are guest speakers on issues of importance to Head Start programs.
• The four Standing Committees meet (Governmental Affairs; Training & Technical Assistance; Finance; and Membership, Member Services & Public Relations).
• The Board of Directors meet five times a year.
• They are elected at the January Assembly each year to oversee the work of the Director, provide leadership for the Assembly, problem-solve, and see to it that the mission of the MHSA is carried out.
• The officers are elected by the full Assembly in January (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian)
• MHSA Sends a Delegation to the Region V Association Board Meetings  The Region V Board (which represents Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois Head Start programs) meets four times a year.  The MHSA Board of Directors chooses a Director, Staff, Parent and Friend (and their alternates) to represent us on the Region V Board.

Region V Board Sends a Delegation to the National Head Start Association Board
A Director, Staff, Parent and Friend from the Region V Board are elected to represent our Region on the National Head Start Association Board.  All twelve Regions send four people to serve on the NHSA Board.

Click here to download MHSA Bylaws