Services

From prenatal to five years of age, Early Head Start and Head Start children receive specialized quality education and comprehensive services that provide opportunities for our children to learn and success when they enter kindergarten.

Prenatal (Wells and Ramsey Counties Only)

  • By-monthly home visits focusing on best opportunities for healthy beginnings
  • Prenatal curriculum focusing on fetal development, mother’s health and nutrition, birth plan and supportive postpartum care for the parents and child
  • Father involvement
  • Care during infancy

School Readiness

  • Children learn through play and discovery
  • Screening and ongoing assessment
  • Individualized Education Plans
  • Evidence-based curriculum
  • Low Child/Staff Ratios
  • Structured Routines and Schedules
  • Developmentally appropriate practices
  • Services for children with disabilities
  • Inclusive classrooms
  • Ongoing collaboration with schools promoting successful transitions

Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five

Health

  • Hearing and vision screenings
  • Physical and dental exams
  • Clean and safe environments
  • Staff certified in first aid and cpr
  • Indoor/outdoor physical development
  • Working with families to secure a medical home- primary physician, health coverage and preventative care.

Nutrition

  • Nutrition assessments
  • Healthy breakfast, lunch and snack
  • Partnership the WIC agencies
  • Routine height and weight checks
  • Nutrition experiences in classrooms
  • Parent education on healthy living

Family Engagement

  • Parent engagement activities and leadership opportunities
  • Supporting families to meet their needs and achieve goals
  • Community resources and services
  • Parent curriculum
  • School to home activities supporting school readiness

Parent Family Community Engagement Framework

Head Start Program Performance Measures Conceptual Framework

Child’s Social Competence

1

ENHANCE children’s growth and development

2

STRENGTHEN families as the primary nurtures of their children

3

PROVIDE children with educational, health, and nutritioinal services

4

LINK children and families to needed community services

5

ENSURE well-managed programs that involve parents in decision making

Source, Administration for Children and Families, United States
Department of Health and Human Services.1997.