EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM

Programs

What is Early Head Start?

Early Head Start (EHS) is a federally funded community-based program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women. Its mission is simple: to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhance the development of very young children, and promote healthy family functioning. EHS evolved out of Head Start's long history of providing services to infants and toddlers through Parent Child Centers, Comprehensive Child Development Centers (CCDPs) and Migrant Head Start programs. Recent advances in the field of infant development make this an especially exciting time to have Head Start formally expand its family to include the provision of Early Head Start services.

To help design the new initiative the Secretary of Health and Human Services formed an Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers in 1994. The committee set forth the vision and goals for Early Head Start that have been shaped by lessons learned from the Comprehensive Child Development Programs, Parent and Child Centers, Migrant Head Start Programs, locally designed Head Start programs, and other early child development and family support efforts serving families with very young children.

Early Head Start at NPC

The Early Head Start program at NPC, Inc. has been in existence since October 2010. We currently serve 90 children six weeks to three years of age.The program consists of 48 center-based children, 30 home-based children and 12 prenatal parents. All of the classrooms are full day/full year.

Eligibility Requirements

Children must be six weeks to three years old by October 1 for the current program year. The family must meet the Federal Income Guidelines or be receiving TANF services through the Division of Family Services.

Services Available for Disabled Children

Since its earliest days, Early Head Start has been committed to including children with disabilities as full participants in center-based and home-based programs. Head Start values and respects families in all their diversity—language, culture, ability, and ethnicity—and recognizes the rights of children of differing abilities to be included as full members of their community. Various services are available from surrounding area agencies such as Newark Public Schools child study team and early intervention services from local hospitals and private agencies that serves children with disabilities.

Program Overview

Early Head Start (0-35 months)

SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

NPC Early Head Start Program providesa myriad ofservices to children 0 to35 months which operates year round. The Early Head Start (EHS) program is for 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.
Child care is a top concern and challenge for parents of children in Early Head Start (EHS) programs. EHS staff and are experts insupporting families in obtaining the best services for children

SERVICES TO PREGNANT WOMEN

The link between a pregnant woman's health and the health of her child is a well-established fact. Early and regular prenatal care, a healthy diet, exercise, and avoidance of stress, alcohol, and other harmful substances are a few things all mothers can do to ensure that their child will be born healthy. Early Head Start programs are in a unique position to support pregnant women and can offer this support through a combination of systems and services (as required by the Head Start Program Performance Standards).

Home Base Program

This program consists of weekly home visits to families, socialization groups twice a month where parents and child interact with other parents and children in a classroom environment and parent groups. Childcare and snacks are provided for all groups and socialization sessions. Transportation is limited to transporting children and parents for socialization sessions.

Full Day Program

This option is primarily for working or student families that need full day childcare. This program serves children 6 weeks to age 3 and operates Monday-Friday. Families have home visits and parent/teacher conferences. No transportation provided.

Prenatal Program

This program consists of home visits during a parent’s pregnancy to provide education and support. Once the baby is born she/he is automatically enrolled in to one of the programs mentioned above.

Children with Disabilities

Since its earliest days, Head Start has been committed to including children with disabilities as full participants in center-based and home-based programs. Head Start values and respects families in all their diversity—language, culture, ability, and ethnicity—and recognizes the rights of children of differing abilities to be included as full members of their community.

NPC has a Disabilities Service Plan that outlines staff work with community partners to deliver services to children with disabilities and their families. We do our best to ensure that programs are ready and able to include children with disabilities in all activities. We also provide information and support that enables staff to contribute to program-wide efforts to effectively include children with disabilities and their families.