Family Engagement

Families are the cornerstone of Head Start. We believe that parents are the first and best teachers of their children. Families have much to contribute to the program including their cultural heritage, family values and experiences. We encourage parents to be involved in all aspects of the program and their child’s education. The more involved parents are, the more their child will achieve. Teachers partner with parents to ensure their children get the best pre-school education possible!

Family members have many opportunities to participate in the program. They can:

  • Volunteer in the classroom (See Volunteer Information)
  • Attend Parent Connections in the evenings. This is an event for parents and children with fun activities and community resources. They occur on different days throughout the year.
  • Share ideas about learning that can be used in the classroom and on home visits.
  • Participate in Policy Council which meets monthly. Members are all Head Start parents. They work with administrative staff to make decisions about the program.
  • Donate items that can be used by the program.

Family Support

An important piece of Head Start programming is to help families reach goals towards personal, family, and professional success.

Families are able to work with staff in making a plan to reach goals. Staff can provide resources and encouragement to assist families on their path to goal achievement. Families are linked to other agencies and organizations offering programs including but not limited to:

  • Housing
  • Employment
  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Child Care
  • Counseling
  • Domestic Violence Assistance
  • Education (GED, Diploma, College, Skilled Trades, etc.)
  • Family Literacy
  • Financial Education (Budgeting, Savings, Banking, Tax Credits, Tax Filing, etc.)
  • Substance Abuse Assistance
  • Utility Payment Assistance

Enrollment and Attendance

Enrollment: We recruit and enroll children throughout the program year. If you are interested in applying for Head Start Preschool or Early Ed Childcare, please complete our Online Intake Form and a Family Advocate will call you within 5 business days. Contact us by calling 269.657.2581 or 800.792.0366.
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Attendance: Good attendance builds habits essential for success in school and life. Children who attend daily gain skills to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. Children are expected to attend every day, unless they are ill. A Family Advocate will work with families who are unable to get their child to school regularly.