3 minute read
HEAD START
gives children a good start in life
BY Reggie Dogan
STUDER COMMUNITY INSTITUTE
Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in life and that learning process starts at an early age.
Escambia County’s Community
Action Program Committee offers many opportunities for parents to be actively involved in their child’s development and recognize parents as partners in education.
CAPC’s Head Start/Early Start programs are specifically designed to meet each child’s developmental needs by empowering families and providing access to services needed to reach their goals.
In Escambia County, Community
Action Program Committee operates the local Head Start/Early Head Start programs.
CAPC Head Start serves 670 children from ages 3 and 4 in Escambia
County. Early Head Start serves 88 children from birth to 36 months.
CAPC’s education program is designed to meet each child’s individual needs. Every child receives a variety of learning experiences to foster intellectual, physical, social and emotional growth. Children participate in indoor and outdoor play and are introduced to many concepts to progress and achieve school readiness goals throughout the year.
The main objective of CAPC Head Start/Early Head Start is to assist children and their families to develop social, educational, emotional and physical competence by empowering families and providing access to all available services needed to reach their goals.
Head Start was originally created in 1965 as a summer program that would teach low-income children what they needed to start elementary school.
It was designed to help break the cycle of poverty, providing preschool children of low-income families with a multi-pronged program to meet their developmental and educational needs.
In 1994 Early Head Start was created to give all young children equal opportunities to succeed in school and in life.
Both programs are free to families and federally funded to promote school readiness.
These programs encourage parent involvement through regular visits to the child’s home, regular opportunities for parents to volunteer in the program, and special activities. Head Start and Early Head Start programs also link children and families to other services in the community.
Head Start combines services such as education, early childhood
IN ADDITION to preparing children for kindergarten by providing an educational program, CAPC also provides: → medical/dental screenings → nutrition services → mental health services → disability services → family engagement
Applications are accepted Monday
through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., at 401 Brigadier St.
Call 1-844-356-8137 for an appointment to complete your child’s application. Walk-ins are welcome.
PLEASE BRING the following items to complete your application: → Child’s birth certificate → Proof of income
→ Tax return/W2, or two current paystubs, child support and financial aid → Proof of residence, either a lease or any bill with the address listed → Social Security cards for everyone in the family
→ Proof of Public Assistance –
TANF or SSA
→ Proof of Medical insurance → Guardianship paperwork
(if applicable) → IEP/IFSP (If applicable)
Children who will be 4 by Sept. 1 are eligible for our Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program.
Children in the Escambia County Head Start program use blocks to learn shapes, sizes and sharing skills that will help prepare them for kindergarten and school readiness.
development, health, nutrition, mental health, disability services, family support, and parental involvement with the goal of enhancing the child’s life and building a strong family unit.
Through these services, Head Start empowers children with the confidence to excel in school and achieve self-sufficiency as adults.
While Head Start/Early Head Start are designed to help young children prepare for kindergarten, parental involvement is needed and greatly encouraged.
Parents are first and foremost a child’s first and most important teacher.
There are many ways for parents to get involved in Head Start/Early Head Start, including volunteering in the classroom, sharing a special talent and participating in program governance.
Parent involvement in education, in fact, enhances the ability of parents, staff and the community to work together to support each child’s growth and learning in the home and program environments.
That’s why the overall goal is to bring about a greater degree of social competence in children of lowincome families.
Then, the child’s entire family, as well as the community, can be involved to create and sustain quality programs and assist the child with school readiness and success in life.
