| Head Start stimulus aids 52 families |
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Original Source | The World
A former alumna of Head Start herself, Wittman said she believes her child will gain other advantages from the program to prepare him for kindergarten next year. "I knew it was place where they would get positive learning experiences and learn everyday things," Wittman said. Now, even younger children and their parents will benefit from Head Start programming, when Oregon Coast Community Action opens Early Head Start in Coos and Curry counties by March. It will cater to pregnant women, parents who have children 0 to 3 years old. The program is made possible through a nearly $800,000 federal grant through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Wittman, who also serves as the chairwoman for the local Head Start policy council, said Early Head Start will be a great boon to children, as well as parents who need help with everything from getting a General Education Diploma to setting up prenatal exams. Plus, the program will hire 13 employees to help take care of families of about 52 children and infants. "It's going to make the community a better place," Wittman said. "They would help them with everything from the time of conception up until the child is able to go to Head Start." The program focuses on age-appropriate learning, the importance of early development, and relationships between children and parents, said Head Start Director Dale Helland. "This is a critical period in their preparation for life," he said. "That learning of trust and security for the child is the most important thing they can learn. Because at that point their brain is developing those circuits that basically expect safety or danger." Families also will have access to services including immunizations. "For the low-income population, that's not always easy because they may or may not have health insurance," Helland added. "We pay for it if there's no other resource." Through the program, parents will get education and job training opportunities while their children are cared for. "This is basically free childcare for those people who are just starting out." South Coast Head Start is a Community Action Program. It has provided pre-school education to children on the South Coast for more than 30 years. Helland said he's glad this new program is taking root on the South Coast. Generally, because of limited funding, the early program is offered in bigger cities such as Portland and Salem. This year's grant is worth $795,712 and is intended to pay for start up costs. Training and for the first year of operation in Coos and Curry counties. Later - organizations must reapply for the grant yearly - Helland expects to receive about $650,000. Starting in December, Helland said the agency will hire and train employees. He said they'll be spread out with one person in Curry County serving 10 kids, one in the Coquille Valley serving another 10 and 11 positions in the Bay Area. "It's going to be a lot of work, but this is a program that this community needs," he said. The program will be offered at Head Start facilities in Brookings, Myrtle Point, Gold Beach, Port Orford, Bandon, Charleston, and a couple in Coos Bay and North Bend. "This is something that is going to make this a better world in a the long run," Helland said, "because we will be producing citizens that are happier, healthier and more productive than they would have been otherwise." Early Head Start, part of the traditional Head Start program, provides services to parents of infants and children up to 3 years old. Available through Oregon Coast Community Action, the community-based program for low-income families promotes healthy families and early development. Who is eligible: Eligibility applies to pregnant women and parents of 0 to 3-year olds. Families also must meet federal low income guidelines. For example, a family of four would need an income of about $24,000 a year or less. For information: Call 888-1574 or visit http://www.orcca.us. |
