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Mr. Abicht, the President and C.E.O. of TCAP, with his vision, along with a
dedicated staff of teachers, aides, bus drivers, and other staff
members, offer income-eligible children a learning experience that well
prepares them to begin school with the basic social and academic skills for
the entry level. TCAP provides the necessary transportation to the Head
Start sites in Warren West, Niles, Bristolville, Brookfield, and Kinsman.
Registration is currently taking place for the 2008 – 2009 Head Start Program.
For Registration: East Side Trumbull County Call (330) 393-2507 ext. 275 West Side Trumbull County Call (330) 393-2507 ext. 222
What is Head Start?
Head Start is a Federal program for preschool children from low-income families. The Head Start program is operated by local non-profit organizations in almost every county in the country. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They also receive healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting. Head Start helps all children succeed. Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities. Most children in Head Start are between the ages of 3 to 5 years old.
What can the Head Start program offer to your child?
Head Start provides children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. The Head Start staff recognize that, as parents, you are the first and most important teachers of your children. They will welcome your involvement in Head Start activities, and will work as partners with you to help your child progress.
Head Start staff members offer your child love, acceptance, understanding, and the opportunity to learn and to experience success. Head Start children socialize with others, solve problems, and have other experiences which help them become self-confident. The children also improve their listening and speaking skills.
The children spend time in stimulating settings where they form good habits and enjoy playing with toys and working on tasks with classmates. Your child will leave Head Start more prepared for kindergarten, excited about learning, and ready to succeed.
TCAP Head Start program offers comprehensive health, nutrition, mental health and disability services to young children and their families. Services are provided on-site, in the family's home or at the resource agency. These services are supported by professional staff in the areas of Public Health, Nursing, Dietetics, Special Education, Family Counseling and Social Work. TCAP encourages parents to participate in the health and development of their child by taking the lead in determining the unique needs of their child. Through comprehensive screening, assessment and referral, TCAP is able to quickly link families together with partnering professional resource agencies for further testing, counseling, treatment or ongoing support and care. Prevention services and education are provided in the classroom, during parent meetings and special events. In addition to regular on-site services, TCAP offers the following:
Coco And Company Go Shopping: An obesity prevention curriculum for young children.
Help Me Smile: A dental health curriculum for young children and pregnant women.
DECA: Devereux Early Childhood Assessment, a strength-based assessment and planning system designed to promote resilience in young children.
Humility of Mary Mobile Dentist: A partnership with Humility of Mary that provides Fluoride treatment and Sealants for children three and older.
WIC Services: If your child is eligible for Head Start, he or she is most likely eligible for WIC. Please inquire at your local WIC office.
What would be your child's routine in a Head Start program?
Children who enroll in Head Start attend a half-day center-based program. Children can receive a bus ride to and from home.
When the children arrive at TCAP, they are greeted warmly by their teachers. They put whatever they have brought from home in a place which is their own to use every day.
Classroom time includes many different activities. Some teachers begin the day by asking the children to sit in a circle. This encourages the children to talk about an idea or an experience they want to share with others. Children participate in activities including art, playing with blocks or table toys, science activities, dancing to music, looking at books, or pretend housekeeping.
Each day, they have time to work in a small group with other children and to play outdoors on safe playground equipment.
At lunchtime, children receive a nutritious meal and brush their teeth. All the children are taught to wash their hands before meals, and are encouraged to develop good personal and health habits. If they come for an afternoon session, they also receive a healthy snack.
What can Head Start offer your family?
Head Start offers you a sense of belonging, other support services, and a chance to be involved in activities to help your whole family. You can take part in training classes on many subjects, such as child rearing, job training, learning about health and nutrition, and using free resources in your own community. Some parents learn the English language: others learn to read. Head Start also offers assistance to parents interested in obtaining a high school General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or other adult education opportunities.
If you have a family member with special problems, such as drug or alcohol abuse, job loss, or other family crisis, your family can receive help through Head Start.
Head Start staff members refer families needing help to medical, social welfare, or employment specialists they know in the community, and will follow up to be sure you receive assistance.
You can become a Head Start volunteer and learn more about child development. This experience may later qualify you for training which can help you find employment in the child care field.
You can also have a voice in the Head Start program by serving on various committees. Parents experiences in Head Start have raised their own self-confidence and improved their ability to make decisions.
In-kind Contributions of Goods and/or Services:
All Head Start programs must meet Head Start's non-federal share requirement which is 25% of the federal grant it receives to provide Head Start services to children and families. TCAP refers to this non-federal share as In-kind Contributions of Goods and/or Services.
All claims of non-federal share need to be reasonably documented and fairly valued. It is helpful for parents and agencies to provide receipts or sign In-kind Contribution of Goods and/or Services forms to help minimize the likelihood that TCAP Head Start's non-federal share will be called into question by an auditor.
A volunteer's monetary value is determined based on the nature of the work being done and the experience and education brought to the job by the volunteer. Please note, however, that money never exchanges hands. In-kind contributions are provided to the program by the volunteer to assist with the 25% non-federal share mandate. Parents are diligently encouraged to participate in their child's experience at Head Start by volunteering or donating items to the program.
Some examples of allowable contributions include: 1. Parent classroom volunteers 2. Parent professional volunteers such as teachers, nurses, dietitians or other 3. Parents who actively attend Head Start meetings 4. Parents who engage in teacher or staff directed Head Start activities at home 5. Parents who train staff regarding special needs of children 6. Policy Council contribution of services 7. Policy Council member who attends informative conferences 8. Grandparent volunteers 9. Foster parent and foster grandparent volunteers 10. Hospital staff or other agency volunteers 11. Special educator and/or therapist services 12. Pediatrician, Eye Doctor or Dentist services 13. Fire Department or Health Department educators 14. Local university and high school student volunteers 15. Education agency’s student preparation for student volunteers 16. Staff that contributes after scheduled work hours 17. Books, toys, materials and equipment that are used for learning 18. Head Start office supplies 19. Store purchased food items for staff, children and parents 20. Play clothes used for instructional purposes, rain coats, coats or items used in inclement weather 21. Any donation that contributes to each child's Head Start experience
To be claimed as non-federal share a “parent volunteer" must be engaged in activities that are integral and necessary to a Head Start program.
Examples of non allowable contributions include:
1. Parents who transport their child to Head Start 2. Parents who eat lunch in the classroom without participating in activities 3. Toys, clothing, equipment and material not designated for use in the classroom 4. Non-teacher or non-staff directed at home projects 5. Food items that were prepared at the parents home (Ex: birthday cakes)
Links for Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities
Family and Children First Council of Trumbull County
Trumbull County Educational Service Center
Valley Counseling Services
Child and Family Solutions: Homes For Kids
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Head Start
