OPAN
The role of an OPAN Member is:
To be an advocate for Head Start and Early Childhood Education at the local level, and where possible the state and national levels
Focus on advocacy through participation in events, social media and on-going training opportunities
To be a voice for children, parents, caregivers, and families to ensure every infant, toddler and young child has access to high quality early childhood education and positive experiences
Applications for this year’s OPAN Class are closed.
Interested parents – please contact your current Head Start agency for more information about the next class.
2025 - 2026 Class Graduation
OPAN has trained over 150 parents and started an alumni group for
OPAN members that graduated from the year long program.
The Alumni Group meets monthly over Zoom.
OPAN Alumni join together in-person at our Annual OPAN Alumni June Gathering.
OPAN Alumni from the past classes come together for training, networking and enjoy a family-style dinner with each other’s families.
OPAN Alumni:
Have testified at the Ohio Capital
Serve on national parent engagement boards
Traveled to Washington, DC to represent Ohio for quality childcare
Travel across the US for events & conferences with partnering organizations as attendees & presenters
IN THE NEWS
2025 OPAN Alumni, Sara Laughlin interview (October 2025): Child care crisis costs Ohio more than $5B annually, report says | wtol.com
OPAN Alumni & Current Coshocton Co. Head Start Staff, Amber Manbeck speaks with media regarding October/November 2025 Government Shutdown
Ohio's Head Start programs grapple with federal funding cancellations | Ideastream Public Media - Coshocton County & Julie Stone, OHSAI
Watch the video here - starts at 17:21 through 36:30
Southeast Ohio families without early childhood program during shutdown - WOUB Public Media
OPAN Alumni, Alecia Murray
OPAN Class visits DC during NHSA Winter Leadership 2026
2026 Alumni Annual Meet-Up
OPAN Alumni visits DC with UPLAN, April 2026
