HEAD START OF WASHINGTON COUNTY INC

HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS SERVE CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. THESE PROGRAMS SPECIALIZE IN A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY APPROACH TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL READINESS. OUR PROGRAM SERVES AROUND 375 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES EACH YEAR. HEAD START IS A MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRAM, SERVING LOW INCOME OR OTHERWISE AT-RISK CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND FAMILIES FROM A DIVERSE VARIETY OF CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS. HEAD START AGENCIES ARE MANDATED TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF RISK FACTORS BY PROVIDING HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, FAMILY SUPPORTS, HEALTH, NUTRITION AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AS THE PRIMARY NURTURERS OF THEIR CHILDREN IS A HALLMARK OBJECTIVE OF THE HEAD START PROGRAM. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIRE A HIGH STANDARD OF CARE AND OVERALL CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. CLASSROOM TEACHERS VISIT FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES TWICE PER SCHOOL YEAR. EVERY FAMILY IS ALSO ASSIGNED A FAMILY ADVOCATE TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY AND REACH GOALS RELATED TO PROVIDING A SAFE AND NURTURING HOME ENVIRONMENT. FAMILIES ARE LINKED TO ANY COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CHILDREN MAKE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THEIR SCHOOL READINESS SCORES WITH INCREASED TIME IN A STRUCTURED CLASSROOM SETTING. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE AGENCY APPLIED AND WAS APPROVED FOR A "CHANGE IN SCOPE" FROM THE OFFICE OF HEAD START. THIS APPROVAL ALLOWED US TO MEET OUR LONG-TIME GOAL OF PROVIDING FULL DAY SERVICES TO ALL OF OUR CLASSROOMS. TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE OUR FUNDING, THE AGENCY IS REQUIRED TO RAISE A 25% MATCH TO ALL FEDERAL DOLLARS RECEIVED. AT OUR CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL, THE 25% EQUATES TO 1,733,404 THROUGH INDIVIDUAL, COMPANY AND/OR FOUNDATION DONATIONS. FOR THIS REPORTING YEAR A 100% WAIVER WAS GRANTED BY THE AWARDING AGENCY. AS OUR AGENCY BEGAN TO WELCOME BACK IN PERSON VOLUNTEERING FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC, WE ALSO BEGAN TO LOOK AT NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO INCREASE OUR IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS AS NO AUTOMATIC WAIVER WILL BE GRANTED IN THE COMING YEAR. CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANY SIZE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND ALLOW US TO REACH OUR REQUIRED MATCH AND ENABLE US TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THE FUTURE WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE SERVING THE NEEDIEST CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

USDA CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM - PROVIDING BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO AGE 5. DURING THIS PROGRAM YEAR 120,939 MEALS WERE SERVED TO ENROLLED CHILDREN. THE RETURN OF FULLY IN-PERSON SERVICES AND FULL STAFFING LED TO AN INCREASE IN MEALS SERVED COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR. NO ROLLING CLOSURES WERE NEEDED TO COMPENSATE FOR STAFF SHORTAGES AND DECREASED ILLNESS RESTRICTIONS DUE TO COVID ALLOWED FOR INCREASED ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN.