CHILD START INC

EARLY CHILDCARE EDUCATION:0-5 EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM: THE 0-5 EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM SERVES PARENTS, PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS, AND THEIR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH UNTIL KINDERGARTEN-ENTRY WITH PRENATAL SUPPORT, PARENTING CLASSES, HOME VISITS, GROUP CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL, AND HEALTH CARE.OUR EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES RESOURCES THAT HELP ELIGIBLE PARENTS SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT, ENROLLED 313 CHILDREN AGED NEWBORN TO THREE.OUR HEAD START PROGRAM ASSURED PRESCHOOL EXCELLENCE FOR 457 DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AGED THREE TO FIVE.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CONNECTIONS PROGRAM:CHILD START HAS BEEN DELIVERING CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL (CCR&R) SERVICES FOR OVER FIVE DECADES AND CURRENTLY DELIVERS THESE SERVICES IN FIVE KANSAS COUNTIES: BUTLER, COWLEY, HARVEY, SEDGWICK, AND SUMNER. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH BY PHONE, ON-LINE AND IN PERSON. LOCALLY, OUR GOALS FOR CCR&R SERVICES ARE: (1) TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS TO MEET FAMILIES AND CHILDREN'S NEEDS AND (2) TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES WHO BENEFIT FROM INFORMATION ABOUT EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM CHOICES AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. CCR&R SERVICES ARE BASED ON THE THEORIES THAT: (1) CHILD CAREGIVERS WHO FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND PROGRAM QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROVIDE BETTER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN; AND (2) FAMILIES WHO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY EDUCATION AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE QUALITY PROGRAMS MAKE BETTER CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IN EFFECT, CCR&R SERVICES HELP BRIDGE THE GAPS BETWEEN FAMILIES' NEEDS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES.