Illinois Head Start Association board members named

[April 01, 2009]  At the Illinois Head Start Association Conference in Springfield in early March, three Community Action members were named to the state association's board of directors. Crystal Walton, Marcia Hieronymus and Angela Stoltzenburg, all of Lincoln, will represent the Head Start program coordinated by Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois in the parent, staff and friend components.

The March 3-6 conference was at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Hotel in downtown Springfield.

The Illinois Head Start Association was incorporated in 1978 to represent and provide services for all members of the Head Start community: directors, staff, parents and friends. The association is committed to enhancing the development of children, empowering families and strengthening communities. In the advocacy role, the association speaks in a unified voice and acts on issues affecting children and families.

Several policy council parents and Community Action Head Start staff attended the conference as well and learned classroom techniques, best practices for parenting and coordinating a successful Head Start program. The policy council is a unique advisory body comprised of Head Start parents and family partners who oversee policies and procedures affecting the Head Start program. It allows parents an opportunity to be involved in their children's education.

Community Action Head Start serves 338 children and families in six counties throughout central Illinois.

Applications are being accepted now for the upcoming school year. Interested parents should contact their local Community Action Head Start center or the Head Start enrollment specialist at 217-732-2159, ext. 250, for more information.

[Text from file received from Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]