October is Head Start Awareness Month

[October 12, 2013]  Community Action Head Start has three classrooms serving 96 children ages 3-5 in a center-based program in Logan County. Additionally, Community Action offers an Early Head Start option for pregnant mothers, infants and toddlers up to age 3 in a home-based setting. Thirty families are receiving comprehensive Early Head Start services in their homes through weekly scheduled visits.

The Head Start program was developed in the mid-1960s as a result of legislation known as the War on Poverty. Head Start is often referred to as America's most successful educational experiment. The program began with high hopes for success along with unwavering support from its founding committee and remains the nation's leading investment in early childhood care and education.

Head Start provides a range of comprehensive services that include education, health, nutrition, parental involvement and family support services. Head Start has primarily served at-risk children and their families since 1965 and has provided educational services to over 28 million children since its inception. Over 2,873 grantees provide Head Start services to children and their families across America. Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois is one of these grantees.

"The effectiveness of Head Start is evident in the successes achieved by children and families each day and through research conducted on a national level. Community Action Head Start not only provides services to children from birth through age 5, but also to the families to ensure all participants enter kindergarten ready for success," said Holly Roper, Head Start director.

The Community Action Head Start program collaborates with a host of agencies in Logan County. The program is grateful for their support of children and families. If you would like to support or volunteer for the Community Action Head Start program, call 732-2159 for information to get started.

Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois is a not-for-profit agency serving the low-income and senior populations of six counties in central Illinois. For more information, visit www.capcil.org.

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