HEAD START PROGRAM

Programs

Purpose

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.

What is Head Start?

Head Start is a comprehensive child development program which serves children age 3 to 5 and their families. It is a child-focused program that has the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.

The Head Start program is administered by the Head Start Bureau (HSB), the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

The Head Start program has a long tradition of delivering comprehensive and high quality services designed to foster healthy development in low-income children. Head Start grantee and delegate agencies provide a range of individualized services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, and mental health; nutrition; and parent involvement. In addition, the entire range of Head Start services is responsive and appropriate to each child's and family’s developmental, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage and experience.

All Head Start programs must adhere to Program Performance Standards which define the services that Head Start Programs are to provide to the children and families they serve. They constitute the expectations and requirements that Head Start grantees must meet. They are designed to ensure that the Head Start goals and objectives are implemented successfully, that the Head Start philosophy continues to thrive, and that all grantee and delegate agencies maintain the highest possible quality in the provision of Head Start services.

Head Start at NPC

NPC is funded to serve 2504Head Start age and income eligible preschool children and their families. These children are served in 40 Centers and offer several program models in order to meet family needs.

Eligibility Requirements

Children must be 3 or 4 years of age on or before October 1 of the program year.The family must meet Federal Income Guidelines or be receiving TANF services through The Division of Family Services.

Services Available for Disabled Children

Since its earliest days, Head Start and Early Head Start has been committed to including children with disabilities as full participants in classroom 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 andearly intervention services from local hospitals and private agencies that serves children with disabilities.

Program Overview

Head Start (ages 3-4 years)

The Head Start program consists of the following major components

Special Services
Education Services
Social Services
HealthServices

Nutrition Services
Parent Involvement.

Each child in the Head Start program will receive a screening in cognitive development, motor development, speech and language, social emotional development,hearing and vision. If there are concerns in any area, parents will be notified and given information and resources to assist them in follow up.

The educational team is available to support parents in their role as the child's primary educator and works with them to establish and work on goals for children’s growth and development.

All children have opportunities to learn and develop skills through hands on learning activities in language, literacy, mathematics, science, creative arts, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, and physical health and development.

Head Start staff members are advocates in obtaining necessary services for all enrolled families and will develop Family Partnership Goals with each family.
Other services provided:

Assistance in accessing community health resources
Treatment planning with school nurse for children with chronic health conditions
Breakfast, lunch and snack each day
Nutrition education for children and families
Nutrition counseling

Children who will be 3 or 4 years old by October1 of the current enrollment year may qualify for one of the following Head Start program options.

Head Start Program

This program operates September-June, Monday-Friday, for 7 hours a day from 8:30-3:30PM. The focus is on kindergarten readiness. Families receive home visits and parent/teacher conferences. Limited transportationavailable for special needs children.

Head Start/Abbott

This option is for 3 and 4 children who meet the requirements for the Head start/Abbott program. The program operates September – June, Monday – Friday for 6 hours a day from 9:00-3:00 PM. The focus is on kindergarten readiness. Families receive home visits and parent/teacher conferences. Limited transportationavailable for special needs children.

Head Start/ Abbott Extended Day Program

This option is for working or student families that need extended day childcare. The program operates Monday-Friday, year round from 8:00-9:00 AM and 3:00-4:30 PM. Families receive home visits and parent/teacher conferences. No transportation provided.

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.