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2016 - 2017
HEAD START
and
EARLY HEAD START
Parent Handbook
HEAD START/
EARLY HEAD START
PARENT HANDBOOK
Center/School:
Address:
Teacher:
Class Days & Time:
Center/Classroom Telephone #:
PLEASE CALL WHEN YOUR CHILD WILL BE ABSENT.
Head Start/Early Head Start
Region 16 Education Service Center
5800 Bell Street
Amarillo, Texas 79109-6230
1
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
Parent Handbook Contents
Center-based Program Option .................................. 3-4
Comprehensive Services ................................................. 3
Concerns ............................................................................. 4
Disabilities ........................................................................ 11
Early Childhood Mental Health ................................... 13
Education ............................................................................ 6
Family Partnership Agreement ................................. 7-8
Family Services ................................................................. 8
FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act) ....... 5
Food Allergies ................................................................. 12
Health Services ........................................................... 9-10
Home-based Program Option ..................................... 3-4
Independent School Districts ....................................... 4
Meal Service at Head Start ........................................ 12
Mental Wellness Services ............................................ 13
Nutrition/Nutrition Education ................................... 12
Opportunities .................................................................... 7
Parent Engagement ..................................................... 6, 7
Parent Leadership ............................................................ 7
Pregnant Moms .................................................................. 3
Region 16 Facilities or Childcare Centers .................. 4
What is Head Start/Early Head Start? .................... 3
2
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
What is Head Start?
What is Early Head Start?
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Federally funded, community-based programs for qualifying families
 Early Head Start serves pregnant women, infants and toddlers
 Head Start serves 3 and 4 year olds
Comprehensive services
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Education/School Readiness
Disabilities
Health
Mental Wellness
 Nutrition
 Family Engagement
 Social Services
Center-based program option
Classes in a school or childcare center
Classes Monday through Friday
Full-day or half-day classes (Head Start)
Learning activities in large group, small group, and
individual settings
 Individual child progress monitored by classroom staff
 Two home visits by teacher
 Two parent-teacher conferences
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Home-based program option
Lessons provided at home by a trained teacher
Home lessons once a week for 1½ hours
Parents become their child’s primary teacher
Parents continue teaching lesson activities during the week
with their child/ren
 Group Socialization Activities (GSA) are held twice a month
so that children interact with other children
 Parent meetings and trainings are provided at GSA
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Pregnant moms (Regional sites with EHS services)
If you are pregnant, you can sign up for services for pregnant moms. This
program helps you to learn about what is happening to you and your baby as
you go through your pregnancy.
3
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
CONCERNS
The Head Start/Early Head Start Program believes in working with parents
and staff to address any concerns a parent may have with the program.
When voicing a concern, please follow these steps:
Write down the facts about the concern.
Make an appointment to speak to the appropriate person.
Speak in a calm and relaxed tone.
Region 16 Facilities or Childcare Centers
Communicate your concern in the following order:
Step 1 - Speak to the teacher when she is not busy supervising children.
Step 2 - If you are not satisfied with the solution, speak to the early
childhood principal or childcare director.
Step 3 - Again, if you are not satisfied, speak to the program coordinator.
Step 4 - Finally, you would speak to the Director of Direct Services.
Home-based Programs
Communicate your concern in the following order:
Step 1 - Speak to the home educator about your concern.
Step 2 - If you are not satisfied with the solution, speak with your
coordinated services specialist.
Step 3 - Again, if you are not satisfied, speak to the program coordinator.
Step 4 - Finally, you would speak to the Director of Direct Services.
Independent School Districts
Communicate your concerns in the following order:
Step 1 - Speak to the teacher when she is not busy supervising children.
Step 2 - If you are not satisfied with the solution, speak to the principal.
Step 3 - Again, if you are not satisfied, speak to the superintendent.
Step 4 - Finally, you would speak to the School Board.
4
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA)
Region 16 Head Start follows the Federal Educational Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy
of student education records. Under FERPA, parents have the right to
look at and review their student’s education records.
The school must have written permission from the parent to release
any information from a student’s education record unless it is
requested by the following parties or under the following conditions:
 School officials with a legitimate educational interest;
 Other schools to which a student is transferring;
 Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
 Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
 Organizations conducting studies on behalf of the school;
 Accrediting organizations;
 To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
 Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies;
and
 State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system
(specific to State law).
Without parent consent, schools may disclose “directory” information.
However, schools must allow parents a reasonable amount of time to
request that the school not disclose directory information about them.
5
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
EDUCATION
Parents, Become Engaged in Your Child’s Education!
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Listen to and talk with your child
Play with your child
Read with your child
Attend your child’s Parent/Teacher Conferences
Volunteer in your child’s classroom
Be involved in your child’s education
Encourage independence
Have open communication with your child’s teacher, sharing
any information that might be helpful for your child’s
development
Talk positively about and to your child
Spend family time together
Remember attendance is very important
Children Learn By Doing!
Head Start provides:
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A safe, accepting environment,
Opportunities for school readiness,
Developmentally appropriate goals, and
Hands on experiences.
The birth to three-year-old room is set up with a ratio of one teacher to
four children so that teachers can build a relationship with each child. Trust
and bonding through a good relationship enables the infants and toddlers to
feel secure, allowing meaningful learning to take place.
6
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
PARENT ENGAGEMENT
Head Start provides a number of opportunities for family engagement:
Family Partnership Agreement:
 Staff build goal-oriented relationships with families
 Identify your family’s needs, interests, strengths and goals
 Receive support from staff to meet your needs and goals
Parent Leadership:
 Attend Parent Committee meetings or activities
 Serve as a Parent Leader
 Translate for a Parent Committee meeting or
activity
 Work on the parent bulletin board
 Work on the parent newsletter
 Serve as a Policy Council member or officer
 Serve as a Health Advisory Committee member
Other Opportunities for Parent Engagement:
 Participate in home visits
 Participate in parent-teacher conferences
 Volunteer in your child’s classroom
 Attend trainings
 Attend your child’s medical/dental appointments
 Use the take-home library and read to your child
 Enroll in an English as a Second Language (ESL) class
 Enroll in a GED (General Educational Development) class
7
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
FAMILY SERVICES
Head Start supports each family to build on their
individual strengths and to meet their own needs to
become self-sufficient. The
family services staff will partner
with you to develop a Family
Partnership Agreement (FPA).
The FPA is a process that will
help identify your family’s strengths and assist you in
setting goals and developing skills that will prepare your
family for the future. You will have continued support to
meet your goals during regular contact with the family
services staff.
The staff can . . .
 assist in identifying the family’s interests and needs.
 link families to community resources.
 provide assistance for adult education: GED, ESL and college
information.
 serve as an advocate or spokesperson.
 provide emergency assistance or crisis intervention.
 provide assistance with the Medicaid, CHIP and SNAP application
process.
Tell your teacher, home educator or family services staff
if your family needs help.
8
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
HEALTH SERVICES
Head Start supports our children and families health and
well-being by providing the following services:
 Establishment of a “medical home”
 Establishment of a “dental home”
 Early identification of health problems
 Screenings/assessments:
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Vision
Hearing
Dental
Medical
Lead
Hemoglobin
Nutrition
Growth – Height/Weight
Developmental
Mental Wellness
 Assistance with scheduling initial medical exam and initial dental
exam
 Referrals for medical or dental care
 Assistance in scheduling follow-up care when needed.
 Assistance in applying for and maintaining Medicaid, CHIP or SNAP
 Daily tooth brushing in the classroom with fluoride toothpaste
 Health education for children and parents
9
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
GOOD MORNING HEALTH CHECK
Each child receives a visual check–up for:
General Appearance
Obvious Signs of Illness
Complaint of Illness by Child or Parent
Hair (clean, free of lice)
Eyes (red, matted)
Runny Nose or Severe Cough
Rash
Bruises, Cuts, Sores
Vomiting or Diarrhea
Appetite Change
Bowel or Bladder Concerns
Changes in Behavior
IF THE CLASSROOM STAFF HAS ANY CONCERNS,
YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AND IF NECESSARY,
ASKED TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD.
PROTECT ALL THE CHILDREN.
IF YOUR CHILD IS ILL, PLEASE
DO NOT BRING HIM/HER TO CLASS.
10
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
HEAD START
IS FOR ALL CHILDREN
Children with special needs learn and play with other
children in the program.
10 percent of Head Start enrollment is reserved for
children with disabilities.
Head Start helps families provide services for their
children.
Head Start works with all agencies that are working with
your child or family.
Head Start provides transition services to all children.
Talk to your child’s teacher if you have any
questions or concerns about your child.
11
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
NUTRITION
Meal Service at Head Start:
 Head Start provides nutritious meals and snacks in accordance
with USDA food programs. Therefore, please do not send
meals or snacks for your child.
 Staff, volunteers and children share the same meal at school.
 Please bring your child on time and ready to eat, so that
he/she may enjoy the meal with classmates.
Food Allergies:
 If your child has food allergies or special dietary needs, please
bring a note from your doctor and these needs will be met
according to school/center policy.
 Please realize that we CANNOT change your child’s menu
without a doctor’s note.
Nutrition Education:
Nutrition classes are offered to parents to encourage healthy
eating habits for themselves and their families.
Your child is also involved in classroom experiences that teach
general nutrition principles appropriate for their age.
If there are any nutrition concerns, the Nutrition Specialist may
contact you directly. You know your child best and we want to work
together so your child will have a healthy and successful school year!
12
“Children are the building blocks of our future.”
MENTAL WELLNESS in Head Start is:
“Supporting children’s and families’
positive mental health.”
In early childhood, children learn to:
build attachments and relationships with others
explore and try new things on their own
understand and manage emotions
How do children LEARN these LIFE SKILLS?
YOU are the most important role-model in
your child’s life.
In Head Start, Licensed or Certified Mental Health Professionals are
available to support you and your family in developing these lifelong skills.
Parents may discuss any questions or concerns
they might have, at no cost!
For more information, please contact your Family Services Assistant or
your child’s teacher. You can also call Randy Smiddy at 677-5450.
“It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men.”
Frederick Douglass
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“Children are the building blocks of our future.”