In order for each child to develop socially, intellectually, and emotionally according to his / her individual requirements, Head Start classrooms highlight diverse activities: passive and active, individual and group-related, child and teacher initiated. Integrating learning with what appears to be simple play focuses children’s attention on productive actions that teach perseverance and self-discipline, strengthen motor skills, fine-tune manipulative operations, enhance decision-making and problem-solving skills.

Disabilities/ Special Needs Services:

With the realization that each child is a unique individual who brings his/her own challenges to the learning process, developmental screening procedures help identify children in need of additional services. Working with the parents, community resources, and classroom staff, an individualized plan is provided to help the child develop to full potential.

Health Services:

Emphasizing the importance of preventative health care, Head Start ensures that each child/family has primary health and dental care providers. Each child is required to have a complete physical and dental examination annually. In addition there is a health-screening program to identify potential concerns in such areas as vision, hearing, blood pressure, and physical development. Health Education is an integral part of this component. In order to provide for the safety and well being of children, parents, and staff, an on-going training program regarding infection control procedures, first aid/CPR, and health maintenance techniques is offered.

Mental Health Services:

Fostering self-esteem is one of the primary objectives of the over-all program. Through preventative mental health care, teaching staff are assisted to provide activities which enhance positive and constructive relationships among children, inspire children to strive to achieve success in overcoming adjustment problems or other stressful situations in their lives. Through support groups and parenting skills programs, parents are provided opportunities to participate in training to enhance and maintain healthy relationships within the family. Through community collaborations, the program provides families with access to a variety of community resources to help them address their child’s or family’s needs.

Nutrition Services:

Head Start promotes sound physical, social, and emotional development through all of its components and realizes the important link between proper nutrition and the ability to learn. All children are assessed for nutritional inadequacies, and families then given counseling as needed or wanted. Through the USDA childcare Food Program, Head Start daily serves children a nutritionally balanced breakfast, snacks, and lunch. Through community collaborations, families are provided with referrals to other nutrition resources as needed. Through on-going training opportunities, children, parents, and staff are offered information aimed at developing life-long healthy food preparation and eating habits.

Parent Involvement Services:

Head Start believes that parents are the primary educators of their young children. The program is therefore designed to provide parents with activities that can help them become the best educators they can be. In addition to the many workshops and training programs offered, Head Start parents can be involved in the planning and development of other activities in which they are interested---social, educational, community awareness/improvement projects. Parents can gain new skills by volunteering in classrooms, the kitchen, or the offices. When qualified, Head Start parents are given preference for employment opportunities available within the program. An extremely important role for parents is working with staff to make decision about their children and about the program. Parents are encouraged to be involved in planning classroom activities with teachers/home visitors and in learning what they can do with their children at home to further educational goals. Parents can influence policies effecting the operations of the Head Start program by serving on the Policy Council which must approve program goals, budgets, center locations, employment decisions, and any other major changes which affect children and families served. The Parent Involvement schedules include evening and weekend activities in order to meet the needs of parents who work or are in school/training.

Social Services:

The Social Services Component creates the link between the family, the classroom, and the community. Using a case management approach, staff develop partnership agreements with families in order to assist and support the family to meet their own needs and attain the goals they set for themselves. As the primary outreach arm of the program, Family Advocates and HomeBased Visitors maintain on-going contact with the families through home visits, telephone contacts, written notes, and parental visits to the centers. Evening or weekend home visiting is available for parents who work or in school/training.

Transportation:

School bus transportation is available to Lawrence and Methuen children who require this service. Limited transportation is available to Andover / North Andover children. Wheel-chair accessible transportation is included.

Program Options:

Pre-school (children who turn three or four years old before Sept. 1^st  prior  to entering the program)