Head Start
Head Start is a
comprehensive child development program.
It is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services –
Administration for Children, Youth, and Families. To be eligible to participate in the Head Start program, 90% (9
out of 10) of the families in the program must have gross incomes that are not
above income levels set by the Department of Health and Human Services, through
the Office of Management and Budget.
Head Start Centers are
located throughout the counties of Cameron, Elk, McKean, and Potter. Home-based locations are also located in
McKean and Potter counties.
Head Start serves children
ages 3, 4, and 5 who are not yet eligible to enter kindergarten in their local
school district. Centers are open from
September through May each year, four days a week (Monday through Thursday),
four hours per day. Transportation to and
from the center is provided each day.
A major of the program is to
enhance the total development (including cognitive, language, social,
emotional, and physical) of the children.
Education is learning
and Head Start helps children:
Parents are encouraged to
help with all of the many activities which take place within the Head Start
classrooms and during field trips away from the center.
Parents are supported as the
prime educators of their children through both center and home activities
The Head Start program
provides help in obtaining medical and dental services, vision,
speech/language, and psychological screenings for children, as needed.
Good health is having one’s
body and mind in tip-top condition.
Head Start helps
children to get and stay in tip-top condition by:
Good health means good
eating habits, too, so Head Start provides enriching meals at the Center for
the children along with comprehensive nutrition education for the entire
family.
Parents are encouraged to
take children to the various places where they receive health services.
The Northern Tier
Community Action Corporation Head Start Program sponsors the Child
Care Food Program. The same meals
will be available to all enrolled children at no separate charge regardless of
race, color, age, handicap, or national origin. There is no discrimination in admissions policy, meal service, or
use of the facilities. Any complaints
of discrimination should be submitted in writing to the Secretary of
Agriculture, Washington D.C. 20250.
Eligibility for free and reduced-price meal reimbursement is based on
income sales effective from October 1 to September 30 each year.
Social Services offers
support and guidance to families in dealing with problems.
Social services, case
worker, food stamps, rent, medical bills, dealing with welfare – It can all get
rather confusing.
Head Start makes
effort to take away some of the confusion by:
Head Start tries to do what
is best for the children’s growth and development. No one is more important to the success of the program than the
parents of the children.
Why is Head Start not only a
world of new experiences for children, but also for parents? Because you are invited to participate in
the program in several different ways:
Head Start is…For the Child with Disabilities, too!
Children who have
disabilities because of
-
will have the opportunity to
benefit from a comprehensive developmental program.
Head Start cooperates with
other programs and agencies in responding to the individualized needs of the
child with disabilities.
Also, the program uses
professional consultants along with additional staff members to help children
with disabilities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HEAD START OR TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION, PLEASE CALL OUR AREA’S MAIN OFFICE IN EMPORIUM AT 1-888-809-3704.
Head
Start Bureau Home Page
Head
Start is a child development program that has served low income children and
their families since 1965
Pennsylvania’s site