Comprehensive Services

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Comprehensive Services

Education

Head Start’s educational program is designed to meet the individual needs of each child. Children attend five days a week. The curriculum follows both the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework as well as the Illinois Learning Standards. Children’s growth and development is formally assessed three times during the school year. The students are assessed on 5 central domains: Social/Emotional Development, Approaches to Learning, Language & Literacy, Cognition, and Perceptual, Motor & Physical Development. Assessment results are shared with parents as well as activities that can be done at home to support their child’s developmental growth.

Mental Health & Disabilities

Support is provided to ensure children with disabilities are included in all program activities. Children with emotional and social developmental issues are also provided with referral and support services as needed to meet individual needs.

Parent Involvement

Parents are actively involved in the operations of the program. Parent Committees, Policy Council, Men That Care and classroom volunteering are a few of the opportunities available to parents.

Parent & Family Engagement

Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher and the reason Head Start believes parent engagement is a critical piece of the program. Parents are provided opportunities to participate in parent meetings, education/training, program planning and much more. Every parent is encouraged to participate as much as they can and in any way they feel comfortable. Our staff work with each family to help support and address challenges they face by providing them resources and referrals to community resources. Head Start hopes to empower parents by helping them identify personal goals and making progress towards or achieving those goals.

Health/Nutrition

Children must be healthy to grow and learn. Head Start works with each family to provide medical & dental services, immunizations, and other health assessments. Nutritious meals are served family style throughout the program. Each child is provided with breakfast, lunch and snack. Nutrition education is provided for parents and children. Special menus are planned for each child with medical or religious beliefs.

Transportation

Each of the Head Start buses are staffed with a driver and monitor and is equipped with a five-point safety harness. Bus routes are established to provide services as close to each familyʼs home as possible.