"Intellectually, then, as well as politically and socially, Head Start was an idea whose time had come. And the report of the Head Start Planning Committee stands as one of the most significant historical documents ever written concerning the needs of children. It pointed a direction for the nation, which Head Start has only begun to realize." Dr. Julius B. Richmond, Head Start Founder |
Head Start is a FREE comprehensive pre-school program for income eligible children and their families. Size of family unit | Income Guideline | 1 | $10,400 | 2 | $14,000 | 3 | $17.600 | 4 | $21,200 | 5 | $24,800 | 6 | $28,400 | 7 | $32,000 | 8 | $35,600 | | Families 9 or more | add $3,600 each |
The program's purpose is the preparation of children and families to enter the public school system. Head Start believes that parents are the first and most important educators in their children's lives. Both children and families are intricate parts of the Head Start program. By offering a variety of opportunities for involvement and leadership in the Head Start program, parents become empowered and advocates for their families and their children's education. The program uses individualized teaching to encourage the child's physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development while providing advocacy and assistance to parents. The program is designed for children ages three (3) through five (5) who meet the federal income guidelines, with priority given to four (4) and five (5) year old children the year prior to kindergarten. Special needs children are encouraged to apply and receive priority status based on the least restrictive environment, but must still meet income guidelines. To receive more information contact: Human Services, Inc. Head Start PO Box 588Columbus, IN 47202 812-376-9608 or 1-800-878-9608 Human Services, Inc. – Head Start Mission Statement Head Start serves eligible children and families by providing comprehensive services to encourage opportunities for success in school and later in life and shall recongnize the needs and the diversity of children, families, staff, and communities in order to form collaborative relationships that benefit all. |
The Human Services, Inc. – Head Start program prides itself on having qualified staff at its centers. Each center has a Center Manager to supervise the staff and manage the center. All of the Center Managers have several years experience working for Head Start and with young children. All classrooms employ a Teacher and a Teacher Assistant. In order to work for the program, teachers must have a minimum of an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field with 18 credit hours in Early Childhood Education. Teacher Assistants must have completed high school or obtained a GED, but are required to obtain Child Development Associate Certificates (CDA) within the first year of employment with Human Services, Inc. Teacher Assistants also act as Bus Monitors and receive training on duties of bus monitoring. All Bus Drivers have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with a school bus endorsement (S endorsement). The Bus Drivers go through extensive training to get their CDLs so that they are qualified to transport children safely. Many centers employ Food Service Staff. All Food Service Staff are required to obtain Indiana's Food Handler Certification. Food Service Staff also receive training from the Nutrition Specialist on meals and meal planning. Human Services, Inc. – Head Start believes that all center staff are equally important to the overall health and development of the children. Whether it's ensuring safe transportation to school, kindergarten readiness, or serving healthy meals, all are equally important to serving the program's clients.
Head Start must obtain 25% of its annual grant in volunteer time, donations of goods, or cash donations (in-kind). The Head Start program must have $619,699 to meet the 25% in-kind match. Every hour that a person volunteers his/her time to Head Start, he/she is donating at a minimum the equivalent of $10.35 to the program. Even one hour a month makes a difference! The Head Start program encourages community and parent volunteers on all levels. From participating in the Head Start policy making body (Policy Council), to cutting out shapes for the classroom, and everything in between, Head Start thrives because of its volunteers. By volunteering for the Head Start program, you are helping children continue to receive free preschool services that better prepares them for success in the public school systems. If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity for the Human Services, Inc. – Head Start program, please call 1-800-878-9608. “I volunteered my time at Head Start as a youth mentor in the program's Summer Camp. This is an exceptional program. All the staff take great care in making sure the needs of each child are met. It's a wonderful experience to know that I played a role in a child's success in learning reading readiness skills. It is a joy to help celebrate those successes and be a positive influence in a child's life that is filled with so many negatives.” Head Start Youth Mentor |
The community plays an important role in the Head Start program. Head Start looks to community needs when planning each year. Head Start stays involved in the community by attending local community meetings, participating in United Way/Fund events,collaborating with other agencies to meet needs, communicating with local school systems, and participating in community child fairs. Some examples of the community partnerships Head Start is involved in are: - Community colleges and parent education programs
- United Way
- Adult Education, Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) programs, and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs
- Even Start and other family literacy programs
- Health providers and resources
- Area/local offices of State departments, such as the Departments of Human Services, Public Aid, and Children & Family Services
- Child Care Resource & Referral agencies
- Local Education Agencies
- Child care agencies
- Mental health agencies
- Community based social service agencies
- Community social, faith-based, and fraternal organizations
"In the final analysis one could ask 'Was Head Start enough?' The answer is obviously "No." Was it is it as good as it could be? Again, the answer is "No." But Head Start still was a miracle. It has been and continues to be a terrific thing for families and children." Sargent Shriver ,
Head Start Founder |
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Head Start Program 
