Northern Kentucky Head Start

Head Start children and their families can count on these services:

• Individual teaching and educational opportunities
• Speech, language and hearing screening
• Health care promotion
• Social services
• Mental health services
• Services for children with special needs
• Nutritious snacks and meals
• Dental checks
• Parent involvement opportunities
• Leadership development and training opportunities
• Kindergarden readiness

The four major components of the Head Start Program:

The educational program is developed to meet each child ’ s individual needs. Every child receives a variety of learning experiences to foster intellectual, social and emotional growth. Learning is through play and developmentally appropriate activities.

The importance of prevention and early identification of health and nutritional concerns are the foundations of these components. We make sure every child receives comprehensive health care, including medical, dental, mental health and nutrition services. Nutritious meals and snacks are served "family style" to make sure every child receives the amount of food they want while they also learn table manners.

Parents are their children’ s first teachers. Head Start parents are empowered through extensive training throughout the Head Start year. Head Start empowers parents to become leaders. Each parent is automatically a member of the center's parent committee, and each center elects parents to serve on the agency's Policy Council, which makes important program and governance decisions related to the operation of the Head Start program.

Specially trained family advocates assess family needs and help them access the services that will build upon the individual strengths of the families to help them become self sufficient.