Lebanon County Head Start-
Family and Community Partnerships
Family Partnerships
Assistance is provided to those families who are participants in the Head Start Program. This assistance offered is to aid in their efforts to improve the conditions and quality of family life. This is accomplished in part through each enrolled family receiving a Family Assessment, which develops a total profile of individuals being served. We strive to identify and maximize family strengths while keying in on areas of needs and/or concern. Through establishing trust with families, a gradual independence is encouraged which is reflected in improvement of living conditions.
The Social Service Staff in its entirety consists of a Services Coordinator and nine full-time Family Service Workers. The Services Coordinator serves as a resource person and consultant for the Education/K-4 Coordinator. All Family Service Workers function as parent involvement staff at all centers and also within the K-4 Collaboration program working with center committee activities and personnel.
Parent Involvement Component
Meaningful parent involvement is the key to success or a successful Head Start Program. Head Start recognizes parents as the primary educators of their children and as having the responsibility of their well-being. Through developing understanding of children' s needs, parents come to serve as their own advocates to implement change. A common goal strives for eliminating adverse conditions which impact on disadvantaged families. The parent involvement component provides a planned program of experiences and activities, which support and enhance opportunities to carry out these responsibilities.
Parents are encouraged to participate in our program in four major activities:
- Participating in the process of making decisions about the nature and operation of the program.
There are two levels of policy groups - Center Committees and Policy Council. Center Committees are set up in each of the five center sites: AVON, ELCO - Ft. Zellers, Southeast, Harding and Northwest. Center Committee representatives serve on Policy Council.
- Participation in the classroom as paid employees, volunteers, or observers.
Currently our staff consists of 48 employees, 15 of whom have been past or are present parents of a child in the program. Past parents comprise all levels of supervision, from assistants to director. Head Start mandates that parents are given preference for employment in positions they are qualified for. Parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer in the classroom as well as participate in other areas of the program. We implemented a Volunteer of the Month - which recognizes the parent who has spent the most hours in the classroom that month. Each center has a "Volunteer of the Month." In addition, recognition is given to the classroom that has the most parent participation during the month. At each center we have "Classroom of the Month." All parents are recognized in our annual Parent Recognition Banquet in the spring. Outstanding parent volunteers are acknowledged and receive a certificate.
- Activities for parents which they have helped to develop.
This is done in many ways - at Parent Center Committee meetings, parent support groups, parenting classes, through newsletters, etc. Parents are also encouraged to participate in community groups with common concerns. Parent Activity Funds are used to cover costs of parent-sponsored activities.
- Working with their children in their home in cooperation with staff.
Head Start staff coordinates home visits that will reinforce and support the family's total Head Start experience. Staff from all components may visit jointly or independently of each other. Although home visits are not a condition of enrollment, all efforts are made to reinforce the advantages of visits with families.
The Parent Involvement Staff consists of a Parent Involvement Specialist as well as the Family Service Workers. Both work closely with all staff in identifying parent needs and scheduling activities and/or trainings to meet these needs.
Parent Store
An idea unique to the Lebanon County Head Start is the parent store. The parent store was created as an incentive for parents to volunteer in the program. Funds from Policy Council are used to buy items for the parent store. The items stocked in the store are generally items which cannot be purchased with food stamps, such as diapers, paper towels, shampoo, deodorant, etc. In addition, holiday items are stocked during the holiday season. Parents are given "Head Start dollars" each time they volunteer in the program, complete a home activity for the program, or assist on field trips and/or at meetings. One "Head Start Dollar" is given for each hour of volunteerism. These dollars are then used to purchase items from the Head Start Store. The store, however, is open only on center committee days which are our parent training days so that parents come to the store to shop but also are there for the trainings. The parent fund-raisers, such as sub sales, are used to fund the store.
Community Partnerships
Lebanon County Head Start is actively involved in several grant programs within the community. Cornwall-Lebanon School District, Eastern Lebanon County School District and Northern Lebanon School District have involved children and families from their districts in the Read To Succeed Program. Head Start children and families from the Lebanon School District have opportunities to participate in the Reading Excellence Act programs. Lebanon Family Literacy works closely with Head Start and families to facilitate adult and family learning.
The Health Services Advisory Committee is comprised of community health professionals, including school nurses, mental health professionals, parents and policy council representatives. This committee meets formally twice per year, but there are informal meetings held with staff on an as-needed basis to meet the ongoing needs of the Head Start family.
Health services provided through collaborations with the community include:
- Program collaboration with the WIC program to obtain hemoglobin readings.
- Some of our area dentists donate their time to do dental screenings on our children.
- The local hospital provides lead screenings for our children.
- Local limited free dental clinic helps to provide follow-up care for children.
- Good Samaritan Family Practice partnerships in a residency doctor exchange program when staff is available.
We have an informal partnership with Lebanon County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program. Often, during the family needs assessment a mental health issue is identified with the parent, child and/or family. As a result, a referral is made to MH/MR to enlist the services needed, albeit counseling, Therapeutic Support Services, and/or Family Support services. The family worker assists the parent along the way offering the level of intervention needed into the process and follow-up.
Lebanon County Head Start shares in a partnership with Parents Anonymous Program through having a Family Service Worker who serves as Secretary on the Executive Board. Referrals are make to the parents' support group. Facilitators from the group have given presentations at our various parent committee meetings.
We share a working partnership with Lebanon Family Health Services. They assist with our hemoglobin, hematocrit testing and serve our families through their WIC Program.
Head Start shares collaboration with Sexual Assault Resource Counseling Center every year.
The Head Start Program shares collaboration with the Human Service agency HARP (Housing Assistance and Resource Program). If a staff member of Head Start, such as a Family Worker, is notified by the family that they are facing eviction or are homeless, the worker will contact and join forces with HARP (if the family first goes to HARP, then they will contact Head Start). This means that the worker and the family will fill out an application for Housing Assistance and form a budget plan. Head Start and HARP communicate throughout this process to help the family follow through with the conditions of the application.
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