About Us

The Region IV Head Start Association, Inc. (RIVHSA), founded in 1986, is a private, not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to improving the quality of early care and education for Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) children and their families.

It is our mission to support the Head Start community through leadership, advocacy, partnership and professional development in order to promote the delivery of high-quality services to children and families. We envision a nation where young children who are economically and socially disadvantaged begin their formal education ready and resilient.

OPENING DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY
For 30 years ago, the Region IV Head Start Association (RIVHSA) has been dedicated to improving the quality of early care and learning services for Head Start/Early Head Start children and their families.

Over the years, RIVHSA has grown significantly while remaining focused on our mission to make a difference in Region IV by leveraging our collective voice, engaging partners across sectors, and supporting professional development to open doors of opportunity for enrolled children and families. 

Today, RIVHSA represents more than 170,000 children, 40,000 staff and 300 member programs.  RIVHSA is a regional affiliate of the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and its regional network includes a growing alliance of corporate partners and individual members, as well as 8 state affiliates: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

MISSION
The Region IV Head Start Association's mission is to support the Head Start community through leadership, advocacy, partnership and professional development, promoting the delivery of high quality services for children and families.

​VISION

​We envision a nation where young children who are economically and socially disadvantaged begin their formal education ready and resilient.

CORE VALUES

We value advocacy, networking/partnerships, and professional development.

Today, RIVHSA represents more than 150,000 children, 40,000 staff and 400 member programs. RIVHSA is a regional affiliate of the National Head Start Association.

Our regional network includes a growing alliance of corporate partners and individual members, as well as our 8 state affiliates: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Becoming a corporate sponsor shows a vested interest in RIVHSA and our member programs.

As a corporate sponsor, your company is doing more than establishing or strengthening its connection to our member network, but you’re also joining a community of professionals, parents and partners dedicated to making a difference.

TARGET AUDIENCE
Our average attendance is 1000-1200 conference participants. The attendees include HS/EHS administrators, managers, practitioners, educators, center-based staff, governing body members, parents and community partners, as well as affiliate representatives and regional partners. The chart below indicates the percentage of attendance by participant category and affiliate states.

WHY EXHIBIT?
This event is an excellent opportunity to:
 Build visibility in the regional HS/EHS community.
 Gain access to more than 1000 HS/EHS professionals, parents and partners in a single venue.
 Demonstrate, promote, and sell your products and/or services.

WHO SHOULD EXHIBIT
RIVHSA welcomes organizations and companies that offer a wide variety of products and services for the HS/EHS community. The majority of the organizations and companies that exhibit at our event offer products and/or services which focus primarily in the areas of early childhood education, parent and family engagement, health and wellness, professional development, program operation and management, as well as technology and research. 

Source : Event Website