South Plains Community Action Association Head Start & Early Head Start Division What is Head Start?

South Plains Community Action AssociationHead Start & Early Head Start Division

What is Head Start?

The Beginning…

• In January of 1965, a group of sociologists, psychologists, and pediatricians began discussions of a design that intended to assist children overcome setbacks or obstacles caused by

poverty. Urie Bronfenbrenner, Mamie Clark and Edward Zigler

• The name Head Start was chosen by academics who understood the achievement gap and that middle class students get ahead of their lower class peers.

• January of 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared "The War on Poverty" in his State of the

Union speech.

The Beginning…• In May of 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson announces Project Head Start .

• It started in the summer of 1965, Head Start was launched as an eight week

summer program for children from low-income communities going into public

school in the fall.

Head Start Mission’s Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.

Early Head Start, launched in 1995, provides support to low-income infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families. EHS programs enhance children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; assist pregnant women to access comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care; support parents' efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and help parents move toward self-sufficiency.

•

Head Start’s Purpose

Head Start Today

• Head Start is administered by the Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

• In 2009, Head Start Enrollment was 904,153 children across the US.

• Since 1965, Head Start has provided comprehensive services to nearly 30 million children and their families

• Serve 1,340 children and families• 26 Centers including partnerships with 14 area

ISD’s and the YWCA in Lubbock.• Reach 12 counties

SPCAA HS and EHS

Early Head Start…The Beginning

• In September of 1995, under the Bill Clinton administration, the first Early Head Start grants were given.

• Services are for:• Newborn to 3-years-old• Pregnant Women

• Prenatal education, birth defects & low birth weights, drug & alcohol abuse


Services•Education•Health•Mental Health & Disabilities•Family Support


Education• School Readiness• Language• Motor Skills• Comprehension• Decision Making• Creativity• Positive Parenting • Healthy Pregnancy (EHS)


Health• Immunizations• Physicals• Dental Checkups • Vision & Hearing Screenings• Refer for Special Procedures• Healthy Meals and Snacks• Tooth brushing


Mental Health & Disabilities• 10% funded enrollment• Assessments and Screenings• Referrals• Follow-up• Transition


Family Support• Family Support Workers

• Family Partnership Agreements

• Family Contacts

• Trainings & Conferences

• Parent Ideas for Lesson Plans

• Parent Involvement

• Parent Committees & Policy Council


Who Qualifies?Head Start: Children 3-years-old by September 1st

Early Head Start: Pregnant Mothers and Children 0-3

Both:- Income: Includes some slots for above income families- Family Situation: Foster, Single Parents, Working, etc.- Homelessness- Disabilities

Age and Income


Head Start Grantee SitesLubbock- Eddie Richardson Center (HS) & Shapes Academy (HS)Levelland- Levelland Building Blocks (HS)Littlefield- Little Steps (HS)Plainview- Creative Zones (HS & EHS), Hale County Home Based (HS)Post- Windham Center (HS & EHS) and Garza County Home Based (EHS)Denver City- Future Success (HS)Brownfield- Terry County Home Base (EHS)


Head Start Partner Sites• Brownfield ISD• Crosbyton ISD• Floydada ISD• Levelland ISD• Littlefield ISD• Lorenzo ISD• Morton ISD

• Muleshoe ISD• O’Donnell ISD• Olton ISD• Ropesville ISD• Smyer ISD• Sudan ISD• Slaton ISD *Lubbock YWCA Legacy- CDC


Early Head Start CentersPost: Windham Early Head Start & Garza County Early Head Start Home BasedBrownfield: Terry County Home Based Early Head StartPlainview: Creative Zones Early Head Start


How to Apply• Recruitment begins April 1, Enrollment May 1st

• (806)762-8815 or 1-800-658-9632• Recruitment Meeting:

• Birth Certificate• Shot Record• Proof of Income• Medicaid/Insurance Card


Volunteer Opportunities• Classroom Volunteer• Family Support Volunteer• Clerical & Reception Volunteer• Facility Care Volunteer• Health Volunteer• Food and Nutrition Volunteers• Outreach Volunteer• Management Volunteer


Gold Volunteer A volunteer who provides services at any site

while children are in care no more than 2 days in a 30-day period. These volunteers must never be left alone with children/a child.

• Gold Volunteers need an Application


Red Volunteer• Application• Signed Handbook• TB Letter• Background Check Form

• Background Check Email• Personnel Information Record• Notarized Affidavit• Personnel Training Page

Red Volunteer A volunteer who provides services at a grantee site

while children are in care more than 2 days in a 30-day period. These volunteers must never be left alone with

children/a child.

• Theory

Core Values

Mission


If you would like to volunteer! Contact: Lauri Garza

806-762-8815 [email protected]


Q & A

Documents

South Plains Community Action Association Head Start & Early Head Start Division What is Head Start?