WELCOME TO HEAD START - WCMCA

1 WCMCA . HEAD START . Parent handbook 2015 - 2016 . Serving Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wadena Counties West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. 411 Industrial Park Blvd Elbow Lake MN 56531. 218-685-4486 or 800-492-4805. Also available on our website at WELCOME TO HEAD START ! WEST CENTRAL HEAD START MISSION STATEMENT. Head START provides a supportive environm ent that encourages children, fam ilies, staff, and com m unities to thrive by identifying strengths and opportunities, and developing strong partnerships to m eet needs.

2 Serving Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wadena Counties This handbook is for parents of children enrolled in Head START in West Central Minnesota. It contains important information for all parents about the Head START program. Included is specific information on the Center Based, Combination and Home Based options used in our program. Your child will be enrolled in one of these options. Each of our center classrooms are licensed for 20 Preschool aged children. Name of Center My Child Attends: My class meets on these days: Mon Tues Wed Thurs Friday My class meets at the following time: Location/Address: Telephone Number of Center: Emergency Weather Stations in my Area: Family Education Specialist's Phone Number(s): Your Family Education Specialist's Supervisor is: 1-218-685-4486.

3 Head START Main Office Numbers: 1-800-492-4805. Website: West Central Head START Head START Main Office Address: 411 Industrial Park Blvd. Elbow Lake, MN 56531-0956. Head START Director: Valerie Arnquist This institution is an equal opportunity provider. WCMCA Head START Parent handbook 2015 - 2016 Page 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS. WELCOME to Head 3. Head START Beliefs/The Goals of Head START .. 4. Your Head START Services .. 5. School Readiness Goals .. 6. Planning for Your Child's Head START Day .. 7. Cultural and Religious Beliefs.

4 7. Backpacks .. 7. Dropping Your Child Off At The Center .. 7. Confidentiality .. 8. Photography 8. Problem Solving .. 8. Parent Permission .. 8. Communications Between Families & Head START Staff .. 9-10. Pets .. 10. Head START Cancellation Policies .. 11. Questions Parents Often 12. Early Childhood Development in Head START .. 13. Language & Literacy in Your Child's Classroom .. 14. Play in Your Child's Classroom .. 15. Learning Styles .. 16. Helping Your Child Learn .. 17. Child Temperaments .. 18. How Do We Guide Children's Behavior in Head START .

5 19. Techniques for Guiding/Building Self-Concept in Children .. 20. Physical and Oral Health in Head START .. 21. Health Education .. 22. Visiting the Dentist .. 23. Administering Medicine in the Head START Program .. 24. Illness Exclusion Policies .. 25. Immunization Policy .. 26. Nutrition in Head START .. 27. Choose MyPlate .. 28. Policy on Bringing Food into Centers .. 28. Children with Special Needs in Head START .. 29. You, the Parents, Are the Teachers of Your Children .. 30. Mental Health in Head START .

6 31. My Rights as a Head START Parent .. 32. The Five Protective Factors .. 32. Family Partnerships in Head 33. Volunteering, In-Kind & Local Match .. 34. Parent Involvement and Family Focus in Head START .. 35. Ways Parents Can Participate .. 36. Parent 37. Elected Officers & Duties .. 37. Head START Policy Council .. 38. Guidelines for Classroom Staff & Volunteers .. 39-43. Page 2 WCMCA Head START Parent handbook 2015 - 2016 . West Central Minnesota Communities Action Inc. 411 Industrial Park Blvd Elbow Lake, MN 56531.

7 218-685-4486 or 1-800-492-4805. Dear Head START Parents, West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. ( WCMCA ) would like to WELCOME your family to the Head START Program and to the many services of WCMCA . During your time in Head START , the Agency would like to assist your family with any other agency programs that you find helpful for your family. For more information on the services offered by WCMCA please refer to your Head START Community Resource Book. If your family is in need of these services you may ask for assistance from your Head START staff person or contact our office directly.

8 Enjoy your Head START experience! Stephen Nagle, Executive Director Carol Boyer, Fiscal Director Missy Becker-Cook, Director of Operations WCMCA MISSION STATEMENT. "W est Central M innesota Com m unities Action, Inc., a resource agency, is dedicated to reducing the effects of poverty, helping people to achieve self-sufficiency, and im proving the quality of rural life.". The Head START Staff Welcomes You! We would like to WELCOME your family to Head START . We are a program of West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc.

9 Head START could not exist without the involvement of families like yours. Head START focuses on YOU as the first and most important teacher in your child's life. Your family and our Head START staff member will work together to develop individualized services for your child and family. YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT YOUR CHILD'S CLASS AT ANYTIME. This book tells about your year in Head START . Please ask any questions that may come up as you are reading it. We look forward to our year with you and your family! Sincerely, Val Arnquist Head START Director WCMCA Head START Parent handbook 2015 - 2016 Page 3.

10 WEST CENTRAL HEAD START 'S BELIEFS. Every Head START is unique. While each focuses on family development, Our Head START operates with the following beliefs. We believe that: Having basic needs met is everyone's right. We are responsible for all We are all unique. We all have strengths and children; children are our future. areas for growth and are entitled to respect, Public policy must reflect the best acceptance and compassion. interests of children. We are all interconnected as a community; Early childhood education therefore, our actions impact each other.