Warren County Head Start believes that each child is an individual with special strengths and interests. As a result of observations and communication with each child and their parents, we provide individualized planning to maximize learning.
Warren County Head Start strives to ensure that all children in the program receive the foundation to succeed in school and in life,.
Our educational services provides children opportunities to:
- Actively explore their environment
- Develop literacy and numeric skills
- Build language and vocabulary skills
- Make friends, play together, and eat together
- Create, imagine, and use self-expression
- Learn and grow in every way
HEALTH SERVICES
Warren County Head Start focuses on the overall health and wellness of each enrolled child to help them succeed in all aspects of their life. Each child must have up to date immunizations and a physical prior to participation in the program.
Hearing and vision screenings are provided to all children enrolled at no cost. Detection of any possible problem allows children to receive the services they need at an early age.
DENTAL SERVICES
Oral health is also an integral part of a child’s overall well being and necessary for healthy development. Regular visits to the dentist are very important. Warren County Head Start works with all parents to connect their child to a dental home, encouraging comprehensive care and updated examinations.
MENTAL HEALTH
Warren County Head Start supports our children and families’ mental and behavioral health needs through the services of a mental health consultant. This professional meets with staff concerning classroom management while also providing individual assessments for enrolled children and offering counseling for their parents.
Good eating habits are developed at an early age. Children learn about food and eating by observing others and modeling their behavior. That is why Warren County Head Start policy is to have classroom staff eat with the children at mealtime modeling portion size and behaviors. Children are encouraged to try new and different foods to broaden their food experiences.
Warren County Head Start participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). CACFP guidelines are followed as set forth by the federal government and the New York State Department of Health.
Children with disabilities attend Head Start and Early Head Start in classrooms with their typically developing peers. All children entering Warren County Head Start receive age appropriate screenings for speech, hearing, vision, physical and social/emotional development, and general health. If a concern arises as a result of the screening process, or as a result of an on-going observation of a child, the child’s parents are contacted.
With the consent of the parent, children are referred to their school district Committee on Preschool Special Education or Early Intervention. The CPSE of each school district or Early Intervention is responsible for arranging evaluations of children at NO COST to any parent.
Therapists come to Warren County Head Start and meet with children to provide supporting services. Children with disabilities receive all services that are offered at Warren County Head Start.
Warren County Head Start provides a support system for families. Parent involvement is the cornerstone of our program and parents whose children are enrolled have the opportunity to:
- share in their child’s growth and development
- enhance their parenting skills
- be part of the decision making for programming
- attend workshops
- form friendships with other parents through social activities
- obtain information about other community services and programs
Family Service Workers and Home Based Visitors are advocates for children and their families. During the process of application, enrollment and the Family Partnership Agreement, Family Workers and Home Based Visitors gather information so that the individual needs of children and families can best be met.
Upon enrollment, families are encouraged to identify their goals, interests, strengths, and needed services. The Family Service Workers then act as a link between the family and the center, planning parent/child classroom activities, parent meetings, and specialized workshops.