HEAD START

HEAD START BUREAU

NATIONAL HEAD START ASSOCIATION

Community Assessment 2008

DISABILITIES

PIR Profile

FATHERHOOD INVOLVEMENT

HEAD START FACTS

ADOPT-A-CLASS

POLICY COUNCIL

YOUTH INVOLVEMENT

FAMILY SERVICES

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

EDUCATION

HRC WEBSITE

CALENDARS

CLUB DAD

HEALTH & NUTRITION

NOTE BOARD

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

RESOURCE GUIDE
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Butte and Dillon

The primary role of Family Services in Head Start is to offer families opportunities and support for growth.  All families need support systems at various times in life.  Head Start Family Services staff is here to provide families with information about the Head Start program and support services available in the community.  The Family Services staff will assist families in locating and securing needed services and to serve as advocates for Head Start and families.

Head Start Family Services also provides direct services to families with enrolled children.  These services include:

The Family Services Component of Head Start serves as a link between the family, the program and the community.

PLEASE CONTACT ANY STAFF MEMBER IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.  WE HAVE A GREAT FAMILY SERVICE STAFF WILLING TO HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

The education program at Head Start is designed to meet each child’s individual needs regardless of their developmental skill level.  Every child receives a variety of learning experiences to foster intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth.  Within a few weeks of beginning school, your child will receive a developmental screening called Brigance. These screenings help teachers and parents determine the child’s strengths as well as identify goals for growth.

The early childhood curriculum is used as a guideline when planning an appropriate environment complete with a variety of learning opportunities for your children.

CREATIVE CURRICULUM

Butte Head Start uses the Creative Curriculum as a guide to help plan for our children. 

When you visit your child’s classroom, you will see a room full of children playing.  Children at this age learn through play.  The activities we plan for children help them explore the world around them by using all of their senses.

We plan the classroom and outdoor areas very carefully.  We create distinct interest areas such as:  writing, blocks, dramatic play, table toys, art, water play, cooking, music and movement, books and outdoor time.  We use child size equipment, and put items at the children’s level.  The daily schedule supports our goals for the children.  All of the learning is done in fun, exciting and creative ways to encourage your children to learn and experiment.

PARENT INFORMATION

THE GOAL OF OUR CURRICULUM

The most important goal of our Early Childhood Curriculum is to help children become enthusiastic learners.  This means encouraging children to be active and creative explorers who are not afraid to try out their ideas and to think their own thoughts.  Our goal is to help children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive learners.  We’re teaching them how to learn, not just in preschool, but also all through their lives.  We’re allowing them to learn at their own pace and in the ways that are best for them.  We’re giving them good habits and attitudes, particularly, a positive sense of themselves, which will make a difference throughout their lives.

MEASURING OUTCOMES

Our curriculum identifies goals in all areas of development.

The activities we plan for children, the way we organize the environment, select toys and materials, plan the daily schedule, and talk with children, are all designed to accomplish the goals of our curriculum and give your child a successful start in school.

SECOND STEP

A Violence-Prevention Curriculum

            Second Step for Preschoolers and Kindergartners is a curriculum kit designed to reduce impulsive and aggressive behavior in young children and increase their level of social competence.  It does this by teaching skills in empathy, impulse control and anger management. 

          Second Step can be easily integrated into early childhood programs and is a companion curriculum to the Talking About Touching Early Childhood Kit, a personal safety curriculum.  In personal safety education, children are taught how to avoid becoming victims.  In essence, this curriculum constitutes a second step in primary prevention.

GOOD TALKING WORDS

Teach Social Skills Program

”Good Talking Words” specifically teach children necessary social skills, such as:  good greeting words, good listening bodies and good talking words.  The children will become familiar with large pictorial cars, books, puppets, and they will role-play and practice the skills.

Parents will receive information to assist with follow-up at home.

All Butte/Dillon Head Start Programs implement Good Talking Words.

TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING

A Person Safety Curriculum

The Talking About Touching Personal Safety Curriculum helps children develop skills that will help keep them safe from dangerous abusive situations.  Children also learn to ask for help when they need it. 

The lessons are presented in the children’s classroom.  The lessons included:  Learning Car Safety, Learning Traffic Safety, Learning Fire Safety, Gun Safety, Getting Found, Saying No and Telling, Asking First – Going with Someone, Asking First – Accepting Gifts, Getting and Giving Safe Touches, Dealing with Unsafe Touches, Saying No to Unwanted Touches, Learning the Touching Rule, and Using the Touching Rule.

Parents receive information about how they can help their child learn and practice safety rules.  Parents are encouraged to call the Head Start Family Service Advocates if they have questions or concerns regarding this program. Children enrolled in the Full Day/Full Year Program, as well as the Head Start Center classrooms receive the Talking About Touching Personal Safety Training.

Conscious Discipline

We are now using Conscious Discipline as a supplement to our Creative Curriculum program as a classroom social development program that is based on brain research, child development and effective educational practices. It creates positive environments and through everyday events it teaches children self-control, conflict resolution, character development, and positive social skills. This is a comprehensive emotional intelligence curriculum by Dr. Becky Bailey. At various times of the year we offer staff training opportunities and parenting sessions to extend this program to all aspects of our Head Start Program. Feel free to call 723-4078 for further information. These trainings focus on building the 7 Basic Skills of Conscious Discipline:  *Composure, *Encouragement, *Assertiveness, *Choices, *Positive Intent, *Empathy, and *Consequences.

The health component’s primary goal is to establish a long term “Medical Home” for each child and their family.  This provides an opportunity to develop a relationship between the family and their health care provider, which hopefully will continue after the child has left Head Start.

A Health History will be completed for each child so that any health related issues might be addressed immediately.  All children are screened for vision, hearing, height and weight and also a developmental screening.

All children entering Head Start are required to have a physical and dental exam within 90 days of enrollment, and all follow-up treatment completed as soon as possible.  Immunizations must be up-to-date as required by Montana State Law.  After a Head Start enrollee turns 4 years of age, they are required to have their DtaP/IPV boosters.

Preventative dental care, such as tooth brushing and fluoride, are provided in the Head Start classroom.  If your child is going to receive fluoride at school, please do not give it at home on school days.

Nutrition is a very important part of the Head Start program.  All Head Start children receive a nutritious breakfast in the morning and lunch in the afternoon.  We follow the USDA guidelines, which provides the children with at least one half to two thirds of their daily nutritional needs.  A bi-weekly menu is sent home so that families are kept informed of what is being served to their children.  If parents have any suggestions for the menu, they are encouraged to give them to us.  If your child has a food allergy or intolerance, it has to be in writing from the child’s medical provider.  Food substitutions can then be made accordingly.

Medication Policy:

In order for the school nurses to administer any medication to a Head Start enrollee, the following items are needed:

All medications are kept in a locked medicine cabinet.  Please do not send any prescription or over-the-counter medication with your child.  Please bring medication to school, DO NOT send medication on the bus.

If your child is sick, please do not send them to school. Call and let us know that your child is sick and will not be in school.  If your child has a communicable illness, such as strep throat or pink eye, they will need to stay home for 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is started.  If your child gets sick at school, they will be taken to the nurse’s office for evaluation and sent home if necessary.  Please keep us notified of any changes in home and work phone numbers and emergency contacts so we can notify you quickly in case of illness.

"The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center (202) 720-2600 (Voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."

The Policy Council is made up of parents of Head Start students who are elected to the position by the other parents in the Program.  Each class shall have one parent representative and one alternate from their classroom.  There shall also be representatives from the community.  These should not exceed forty-nine percent (49%) of the total Policy Council.

 Current Policy Council Meeting Minutes

THE POLICY COUNCIL SHALL:

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Acadia Altacare of Montana will be providing behavioral health services for Head Start students.  Behavioral health therapists and associates will be working with children in all Head Start classes.  The therapeutic technique used with our students is based on the Play Therapy Model.

Play Therapy is an active therapy that incorporates play to resolve issues that the child may be experiencing.  The goal is for the child to see him or herself as competent, special, and fun to be with, as well as assist the child in learning new coping and behavioral skills through play.

Parents are encouraged to take an active role in Play Therapy!

Head Start students who may have behavioral health/mental health issues can also be referred to more intensive therapeutic service through the Head Start Program.

The Acadia Altacare Specialists can be reached at the Head Start Main Center during the hours of operation at 723-4078 ext. 21.  Feel free to call with your questions about our fun program!

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Under Montana State Law, the Head Start staff is mandated to report to the Department of Family Services any reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected.

Reporting is a critical step in obtaining help for both the child and parent.  We are here for support and to help the parent wherever needed.

Montana Child Abuse Hotline

Centralized Intake

Child and Family Services Division

1-866-820-5437

1-866-341-8811 TD line for the hearing-impaired.

The disabilities component helps provide special needs children with the necessary services to ensure continued growth and success.  Early identification and intervention will help to secure this goal.  Head Start works collaboratively with parents to secure services by the Local Education Agency (LEA) special education staff, local community resources, professionals and program staff.  Opportunities provided by Head Start are made available to children who have  disabilities by using an active inter-disciplinary team approach.

In our inclusive pre-school classrooms, children with special needs truly have a “HEAD START” toward achieving their fullest potential.

Head Start is committed to these specific objectives to maintain and improve our services to children with special needs and their families:

Butte Head Start has been committed to the philosophy that parents are the primary educators of their children.  A recent study has confirmed that parent involvement is crucial to children's success in school - the foundation that Head Start was built upon 35 years ago.  By forming community partnerships with civic organization, businesses, and the local college to recruit male volunteers, we hope to develop an optimistic bond between the community and Head Start.  We hope that by making a volunteer commitment to Head Start, males will realize the positive impact that they may have upon the future of a Head Start child.

4 out of 10 children live in a Father-Absent Household.

Resource: National Fatherhood Initiative 1998

Butte and Dillon Head Start is excited about the development of the Adopt-a-Class program within our Head Start classrooms.  The Adopt-a-Class Program was developed to offer opportunities for local businesses or organizations to collaborate in providing needed support to the Head Start program and children.   As a community partner in the Adopt-a-Class Program, you can greatly improve the overall program by providing support to a classroom by encouraging volunteering from your organization to read to children once a month, or more if available.  With a focus on early literacy skills, each community partner would be asked to assist in providing the needed funds to purchase new story books for the children to keep.  The financial support of $100.00 or more per year would purchase 3 to 5 new books for each child in the adopted classroom during the school year.

Head Start is committed to improving the programs available to the children and families.  As a community partner, you can help us achieve this goal by offering your needed support and truly make a difference in the life of a child.

If you are interested in this wonderful opportunity to help the children of our community, do not hesitate contacting us at 723-4078 or 1-800-560-3734.  We look forward to hearing from you.

2007-2008 ADOPT-A-CLASS SPONSORS

The most recent Community Assessment indicated that there is a need for more teen activities for the youth.  By partnering with local schools and youth groups, we hope to fulfill this need by providing activities that will benefit both the children and youth in our communities.

We will target groups at the local public high school and alternative school and continue our partnership with the local faith based schools.  We are committed to providing opportunities for our staff to become "mentors" to youth groups in hopes of creating an awareness and desire for becoming future educators.