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Second Step
WHAT IS HEAD
START?
1.
EDUCATION - Head
Start/Pre-K provides children with a learning environment
and the varied experiences which will help them develop
socially, physically, intellectually, and emotionally in a
manner which is appropriate to their age and stage of
development. The educational program includes experiences
designed to meet the individual differences and needs of
participating children. Each child is given the opportunity
to succeed and the chance to be creative and have fun. The
special needs of disabled children, and the methods of
assisting parents as the primary educators of their
children, are also important. We use the High/Scope
curriculum, focusing on active learning, in our program and
the Acuscreen assessment as a means of measuring each
child's developmental progress. Following the Federal Head
Start Child Outcomes Framework, we work to develop skills in
the following domains: Language, Literacy, Math Science,
Creative Arts, Social & Emotional, Approaches to Learning
and Physical Development & Health.
Head
Start programs have a low child-staff ratio. Staff members
receive training in child development and early childhood
education. They learn how to work with children who have
disabilities. The teachers have either a degree in Early
Childhood or a Child Development Associate Credential.
2.
HEALTH - Health
services are an important part of the Preschool program.
Good health and nutrition practices are part of the daily
center activities. Throughout the year, the parents are
encouraged to be actively involved in obtaining their
children’s physicals, dental exams and follow-ups for
special needs.
NUTRITION
- In the program, children are served a minimum of one
hot meal and breakfast each day in order to meet at
least one third of their daily nutritional needs.
MENTAL HEALTH
- A mental health professional is available to the
program to provide mental health training to the staff
and parents and to make them aware of the need for early
attention to the special needs of children.
SERVICES TO THE DISABLED
- Head Start/Pre-K provides opportunities for disabled
children to learn and play with non-disability
children. An individualized approach is developed to
meet each child's unique needs. Assistance is provided
to parents in meeting the special needs of their child.
Our goal is for improvement of the child's self-image as
he becomes more sociable, independent, self-reliant, and
increases his sense of belonging. The preschool concept
of mainstreaming is beneficial to both disabled and
non-disabled children as they learn to understand and
respect human differences.
3.
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
- Services are available to families through Family
Partners, teachers, other staff and through cooperative
efforts of local agencies. Family Partners provide for
recruitment and enrollment, parent participation, awareness
and utilization of community services, and assisting the
family in its own efforts to improve the condition and
quality of family life.
4.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
- Parents are encouraged to become actively involved in all
phases of the Preschool program: in the classroom, at parent
meetings and training sessions, at medical and dental
appointments, in special parent activities, and in the
decision making process through parent-center groups and a
policy council made up of parent and community
representatives.
5.
VOLUNTEERS - Head
Start/Pre-K provides training and the use of volunteers in
the capacity best suited to the volunteer and the center.
6.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
- Through the cooperative efforts of many local agencies and
organizations, a community level delivery system providing a
comprehensive range of services is available to Preschool
children and their families. A collaborative effort between
the Preschool and local agencies provides assistance in
meeting the needs of disabled children and their families.
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