Head
Start
The Head Start Program was established in
1965 to provide preschool children of low income families a comprehensive,
family-centered, child development program to meet their educational,
emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs.
UDMO offers Head Start in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, O’Brien,
Osceola, Palo Alto and Pocahontas counties. In addition, children
ages zero to three and their families may participate in the Early
Head Start Program in Buena Vista, Clay, and Emmet Counties.
UDMO’s Head Start Program is recognized for its collaboration
with local school districts and Area Education Agencies. This allows
for many more children in Northwest Iowa to be served.
Some Head Start Centers also offer Wrap Around
Child Care for families whose parents are working, attending school
or who are in job training. Wrap Around Care provides child care that “wraps
around” the school day schedule. It enables parents who are
working to receive care for their children that fits the routine
workday schedule.
UDMO’s Head Start and Early Head Start
Programs have collaborated with local Empowerment areas to better
meet the needs of children and families in each of the communities
we serve. Empowerment funding works at the local level to increase
the quality of all of our Early Childhood Programs. It has offered
transportation assistance to many families.
The Early Childhood Programs of UDMO are
unique. All centers offer full day services, follow the local school
district calendars and offer extended care in the summer if families
are working toward self-sufficiency. Early Head Start is a full
day, full year program. Parents can choose center based, home based
or the child care option. |
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