EARLY HEAD START

1 MISSISSIPPI ACTION FOR PROGRESS, INC. 1751 Morson Road Jackson, Mississippi 39209 Telephone: 601-923-4100 Bobby E. Brown, , Executive Director Parent Handbook EARLY HEAD START PRENATAL TO 3 YEARS HEAD START 3 TO 5 YEARS What is Head START ? Head START is a program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive EARLY childhood education, health, nutrition, and parent engagement services to low-income children and their families. MAP promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children. Our services and resources are designed to foster stable family relationships, enhance children s physical and emotional well-being, and establish an environment to develop strong cognitive skills. We believe that parents are the child s first and primary teacher. Great minds begin at Head START and we wish you and your child a successful and rewarding Head START experience.

2 MISSION STATEMENT MAP Head START is a service program for children and families designed not only to serve the children, but also to serve as a catalyst for change and development of a broad range of programs which meet the needs of the disadvantaged community, and serves as a mechanism for increased parental and community involvement to effect change in the local communities and the state. PHILOSOPHY Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc. represents a cross-section of Mississippians working for and with children and their families to ensure a brighter tomorrow for the state and nation. MAP believes that every child deserves a head START in life an equal opportunity to develop character, talent, mind, body and personality. We further believe that we are to prepare children to function in our society by providing life experiences. As America s greatest resource, children will ultimately determine the destiny of our country. All children have unique contributions to make to society.

3 MAP is dedicated to maximizing the child s potential for contributing. The American dream of freedom, justice and equal opportunity for all is being brought nearer to reality in Mississippi as dedicated MAP personnel interact with other agencies to accomplish this goal. CENTER LOCATIONS BY REGION Center Name: Address Telephone Region I: Bay Waveland Center 301 Necaise Avenue Bay St Louis, MS 39520 (228) 467-3190 Bay Waveland Blended Services 301 Necaise Avenue Bay St Louis, MS 39520 (228) 467-3190 Richton Center 1301 Ash Avenue ( Box 335) Richton, MS 39466 (601) 788-5511 Richton EARLY Head START 1107 Ash Avenue ( Box 335) Richton, MS 39466 (601) 788-5511 Poplarville Center 1205 East Locke St. ( Box 405) Poplarville, MS 39470 (601) 795-8064 Picayune Center 1628 Rosa Center ( Box 518) Picayune, MS 39466 (601) 799-1716 McCarty Learning Center 1628 Rosa Center ( Box 518) Picayune, MS 39466 (601) 799-1716 Region II: Richardson Center 411 O Sage Street Port Gibson, MS 39150 (601) 437-4094 New Zion Center 2506 Highway 51 SE Bogue Chitto, MS 39629 (601) 734-6350 Lindsey Center 624 East Monticello Brookhaven, MS 39601 (601) 833-2826 Franklin Complex Center 65 Morgan Fork Church LN NE Roxie, MS 39661 (601) 384-2818 King Head START Center 200 Chase Circle Vicksburg, MS 39180 (601) 638-4311 Cedars Center 235 Cedars School Circle Vicksburg, MS 39180 (601) 636-1360 Cedars EARLY Head START Center 235 Cedars School Circle Vicksburg, MS 39180 (601) 636-1360 Region III.

4 Midway Center 5860 Midway Odom Road Forest, MS 39074 (601) 625-9700 Forest Community Center 970 East First Street ( 141) Forest, MS 39074 (601) 469-4757 Meridian EARLY Head START 917 27th Avenue Meridian, MS 39301 (601) 482-5211 Charles L. Young Center 2124 11th Avenue Meridian, MS 39301 (601) 482-4665 Meridian Center 917 27th Avenue Meridian, MS 39301 (601) 482-5211 Toomsuba Center Box 290 Meridian, MS 39301 (601) 632-4491 RLT Smith Center 3004 15th Street Meridian, MS 39301 (601) 485-8047 Coy Stennis Learning Center Box 290 Meridian, MS 39301 (601) 632-4491 Region IV Gilliam Center Gilliam EARLY Head START 100 Martin Luther King Blvd Greenwood, MS 38935 (662) 453-5442 (662) 455-5442 Itta Bena Center 401 N. Carver Ext. Box 305 Itta Bena, MS 38941 (662) 254-6673 Region V Wheeler Center 588 County Road 5031 Booneville, MS 38829 (662) 365-2018 Pisgah Center 3 County Road 8350 Rienzie, MS 38865 (662) 728-6484 Booneville Center 200 Bryant Street Box 670 Booneville, MS 38829 (662) 728-7913 Wheeler EARLY Head START 588 County Road 5031 Booneville, MS 38829 (662) 365-2018 Pisgah EARLY Head START 3 County Road 8350 Rienzie, MS 38865 (662) 728-6484 Union Center 507 Oak Street Box 537 New Albany, MS 38965 (662) 534-2681 Mantachie Center 4091 CR 371 Mantachie, MS 38855 (662) 282-7666 Mantachie EARLY Head START 75 Sunset Drive Mantachie, MS 38855 (662) 282-7200 Fulton Center 608 Elliot Street Box 537 Fulton, MS 38847 (662) 862-3928 Treemont Blended Center 320 School Loop Drive Treemont, MS 38876 (662) 652-3391 Region VI Water Valley Head START Water Valley EARLY Head START 710 Railroad Street Box 741 Water valley, MS 39110-1234 (662) 473-1552 Bryant Center 193 Front Street Ext.

5 Coffeeville, MS 38922 (662) 675-8137 McIntosh Center 450 3rd Street Box 691 Houston, MS 38851 (662) 456-3871 Okolona School Blended Services 450 3rd Street Box 691 Houston, MS 38851 (662) 456-3871 South Calhoun Center 125 Carver St Box 204 Calhoun, MS 38916 (662) 628-6585 South Calhoun EHS 123 Church Street Box 204 Calhoun City, MS 38916 (662) 628-6585 Region VII Exhibit Hall Center 234 Carver Avenue Philadelphia, MS 39350 (662) 656-4731 Winston County Complex 403 Warner Ave. Box 908 Louisville, MS 39339 (662) 773-8622 Region VIII Yazoo Center 422 East Fourth Street Yazoo City, MS 39134 (662) 746-4093 Webster Partnership 400 W. 7th St Apt. 124 Yazoo City, MS 39194 (662) 716-7244 Linwood Center 3439 Vaughn Rd. Vaughn, MS 39179 (662) 673-1212 Bentonia Center Bentonia Blended 10300 Hwy 433 West Bentonia MS 39040 (662)755-0195 Region IX Kendrick Center 172 A County Road 157 Corinth, MS 38834 (662) 287-2671 Corinth Center 2305 Bell School Road Corinth, MS 38834 (662) 286-5802 Belmont Center 1629- B Washington Street Belmont, MS 38827 (662) 454-7346 Burnsville Center 24 Washington Street Burnsville, MS 38833 (662) 427-8883 Tishomingo County Blended Services 24 Washington Street Burnsville, MS 38833 (662) 427-8883 Iuka Center 1939 Ronnie King Drive Iuka, MS 38852 (662) 432-5410 Prather Center 40 CR 562 Ripley, MS 38663 (662) 837-3269 Chalybeate Center 4530 County Road #201 Walnut, MS 38665 (662) 223-5522 Region X Aberdeen Head START 813 HWY 145 Aberdeen, MS 39730 (662) 369-1173 Amory Head START 1105 I Avenue Amory, MS 38821 (662) 256-4834 (662) 256-4727 Flynn Head START 811 South Canal Street Tupelo, MS 38801 (662)

6 844-7571 ECRU Head START 45 Church Street Ecru, MS 38841 (662) 489-8667 (662) 489-8694 Haven Acres Head START 3288 Willie Moore Rd. Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 566-7496 (662) 566- 7494 Lee Industrial Head START 261 CDF Blvd Shannon, MS. 38868 (662) 566-1756 Nettleton Head START 170 Mullen Avenue Box 6119 Nettleton, MS 38858 (662) 963-2223 (662) 963- 2245 North side Head START 517 Linden Hill Tupelo, MS 38801 (662) 620-7238 (662) 844-7523 Pontotoc Head START 341 Ridge Road Pontotoc, MS 38863 (662) 489-0857 (662) 509-7085 Saltillo Head START 116 Pinewood Street Saltillo, MS 38866 (662) 869-2882 (662) 869-2909 Shannon Head START 659 Romie Hill Avenue Box 7 Shannon, MS 38868 (662) 767-3715 (662) 767-9514 Verona Head START 212 College Street Box 579 Verona, MS 38879 (662) 566-1742 ENROLLMENT The Selection Priority Criteria is designed to ensure that Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc. enrolls children who are Head START and EARLY Head START eligible and in the greatest need of the services.

7 Through consistent application of the priority criteria, ninety percent or more low income children will be enrolled. Ten percent of the total enrollment will be children with disabilities and may come from families whose income exceeds the low income guidelines. Low income working families or in school parents who exceed the income guidelines by $1, or less will be given consideration within the ten percent over income provision. Applicants who are not enrolled will remain on the Waiting List as long as the applicant is Head START eligible. APPEAL PROCESS Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc. strives to be fair in the selection and enrollment of children applying for Head START services. However, in the event a child is not accepted for enrollment or dropped from the class roll and the parent(s) desire to question or challenge the decisions, please contact the Enrollment Coordinator in the Central Office @ 601-923-4106. Mississippi Action for Progress, Inc.

8 Will provide every possible means of assisting with complaints or concerns adversely affecting their child s enrollment and attendance in Head START . However, failure to adhere to MAP, Inc. Head START program s policies and regulations may result in termination of services. Parents have the right to file for an appeal if deemed necessary. ATTENDANCE & ABSENTEEISM Regular school attendance is essential for all children to enhance their child development and school readiness abilities. We encourage parents to ensure children arrive to school promptly by 8:00 to receive a full day of services. Parents are responsible for notifying the Center Administrator or Center Staff in the event of late arrival times or absenteeism. Parents are asked to notify the Center Administrator when their child will be absent. A telephone contact, a note sent by the bus driver or bus monitor, or a message given to staff member is acceptable. If a child has been absent for three consecutive days without notification, irregular attendance, or excessive tardiness; the Family Community Worker will contact parents by phone or through home visitation to determine the cause of absenteeism, and assist in developing a plan to ensure regular attendance.

9 If excessive unexcused absenteeism persists; termination of services can occur. HEALTH Head START provides a comprehensive health program to assist the child s physical, emotional, cognitive and social development. This includes many health screenings which are not only required by the program, but also provide valuable insight into your child s development and physical well-being. Parents are asked to take an active part by accompanying your child on these health visits. An up-to-date immunization form (MSDH-121) from the local county health department or a signed statement from the family physician certifying completion of the minimum series is required for enrollment. Infants cannot be enrolled at EARLY Head START until the initial immunization series (after six weeks) has begun; written verification from the local health department or family physician is required. Enrolled children must be kept up-to-date on immunizations as required by the State Department of Health.

10 Parents are encouraged to comply with all on-going dental/health screenings and follow-up appointments throughout the school year. Your cooperation is imperative for your child s overall health. In order to ensure a healthy environment; please be sure to keep children with illnesses or contagious viruses at home until released by a physician to return to school. In cases where it becomes necessary to administer medication during school hours, we will follow procedures which allows for safe and timely administration of medications that have been prescribed by a Physician or Nurse Practitioner. Medication administration will occur only after reasonable attempts have been made to schedule the medication outside of classroom hours. The following procedures will be adhered to: A Permission For Administering Medication Form must be completed by the child s parent and Physician Medication must be in its original container with the child s name and procedure for administration Prescription and over the counter medications follow the same procedures NUTRITION Nutritious food is the foundation for growth and development of a healthy body.