HIGHER HORIZONS DAY CARE CENTER INC

EARLY HEAD START - EARLY HEAD START PROVIDES NO-COST QUALITY CHILDCARE SERVICES, EXTENDED SOCIAL SERVICES, PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND PRENATAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO 128 INFANTS TODDLERS AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAM. EACH DEDICATED STAFFER RECEIVES OVER 20 HOURS ANNUALLY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO STAY PREPARED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES. THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRANSLATES TO ONGOING SUPPORT OF YOUNGEST LEARNERS' OVERALL DEVELOPMENT. HIGHER HORIZONS EARLY HEAD START HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE INFANTS AND TODDLERS CAN FLOURISH AND DEVELOP IMPORTANT SKILLS SUCH AS SELF-AWARENESS, INDEPENDENCE, AND SELF-EXPRESSION. FAMILIES ARE BETTER PREPARED AND INFORMED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROGRAM. DATA FROM CHILD ASSESSMENTS HAVE SHOWN GROWTH ON A CONTINUUM DUE TO THE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT PROVIDED IN THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO THE CLASSROOM, EARLY HEAD START EXTENDS SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN THE HOME. STAFF MAKE HOME VISITS, ESPECIALLY TO THE HOMES OF PARENTS WITH NEWBORNS AND OLDER INFANTS, TO HELP STRENGTHEN PARENTING SKILLS AND TO HEAR AND RESPOND TO PARENTAL CONCERNS. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS - THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE QUARTERLY DIAPER DISTRIBUTIONS FOR OUR FAMILIES, RETENTION STIPENDS IN EFFORTS TO RETAIN OUR QUALITY STAFFING WERE DISTRIBUTED. EDUCATION CONSULTANTS WERE HIRED TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON SUPPORT FOR ALL TEACHING STAFF IN SUPPORT OF FIDELITY TO THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM, CLASS OBSERVATION SUPPORT IN LANGUAGE MODELING AND WELLNESS SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THE STAFF DURING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS. STAFF WERE ABLE TO TAKE A YEARLONG CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE COURSE CATERED AROUND SELF -REGULATION.

LOCAL HEAD START - LOCAL HEAD START PROGRAMMING ALLOWS 84 CHILDREN TO HAVE A VARIETY OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN PREPARATION FOR SCHOOL READINESS. CHILDREN ARE OFFERED ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART, MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND STORYTELLING. THEY PARTICIPATE IN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY, AND LEARN ABOUT BOOKS, WORDS, NUMBERS, AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMMUNICATE THEIR IDEAS AND FEELINGS, AND TO DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. FAMILIES OF ENROLLED CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED IN UNDERSTANDING THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROGRAM. EACH DEDICATED STAFFER RECEIVES OVER 20 HOURS ANNUALLY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO STAY PREPARED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES.