What is Head Start
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Research has shown that it is possible to strengthen the ability of a disadvantaged child to cope with school and the child's total environment, thus helping thousands of children look forward to a brighter future. To achieve this goal, in 1964, the Federal Government asked a panel of child development experts to draw up a program to help communities overcome the obstacles of disadvantaged preschool children. The panel report became the blueprint for the Head Start Program. Head Start, launched as an eight-week summer program by the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1965, was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs. Recruiting children age three to school entry age, Head Start was enthusiastically received by educators, child development specialists, community leaders, and parents across the Nation. Head Start now serves approximately 751,000 children and their families each year in urban and rural areas in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories - including many American Indian and migrant children. A well-established though still an innovative program, Head Start has had a strong impact on communities and early childhood programs across the country. Since 1965, Head Start has served 14.5 million children and their families. The program is locally administered by more than 1,400 community-based non-profit organizations and school systems. Grants are awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services Regional offices, except for the American Indian and Migrant programs, which are administered in Washington, D.C. The Head Start legislation states that the Federal grant to operate a local Head Start program shall not exceed 80 percent of the approved costs of the program. Twenty percent must be contributed by the community. The non-Federal share (the 20 percent) may be in cash or contributed services. Head Start experience has shown the needs of children vary considerably from community to community and that, to serve these needs most effectively, programs should be individualized. In addition, experience to date suggests that, when Head Start programs are designed in ways that take in account community resources and the capabilities of the local staff, a program can often be mounted that will improve services for children within present funding levels. Therefore, Head Start permits local Head Start sponsors to provide children with a classroom-based or home-based developmental program.
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Northcoast Children's Services |