Head Start
What is Head Start?
Head Start is a federal program that helps low-income children, their families, and communities overcome the effects of poverty by promoting school readiness in children and self-sufficiency for their families through the services provided below:
Education Services
Head Start offers children a high-quality early education that helps them become school and life ready. Children enjoy learning in safe and well-supplied classrooms filled with books, learning games, and computers. Teachers and children share the joy of learning and playing while helping children build the skills needed for future success.
Disability Services
Head Start welcomes and supports the inclusion of children with disabilities and their families.
Inclusion with their peers allows for age-appropriate modeling, growth, socialization and
developmental learning experiences.
Parent Engagement
Head Start empowers parents to: be their child's first teacher; develop skills and
decision-making, group process and leadership; join local parent committees and Head Start policy Councils;
set and meet family goals such as obtaining a GED or attending ESL classes.
Health Services
Head Start pays close attention to children's health and ensures that all enrolled children have
current immunizations, dental, and health screenings. Children learn best when they are healthy.
Nutrition Services
In Head Start, children brush their teeth every day and are provided nutritious meals and snacks.
Children learn how to make healthy food choices.
Mental Health Services
Mental health services are focused on developing healthy relationships and building on
strengths of children and families. Staff are available to help parents address concerns such as:
grief and loss, divorce, aggressive behavior, children's coping skills, parenting skills, and routines in the home.
Family Services
Staff members meet families, get to know them, find their strengths, and help them set and reach
goals by working with them throughout the program year. Head Start parents are also encouraged
to improve their own literacy skills and obtain adult education.
Families are connected to community resources that meet their needs.
Shanna Smith
Family Service Worker
Fruitvale Head Start
903.896.2354