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. 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.

2 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. 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 .. 7. Backpacks .. 7. Dropping Your Child Off At The Center.

3 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 .. 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.

4 30. Mental Health in Head START .. 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. 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.

5 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. 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. 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.

6 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. 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. embraces the unique potential of Parents are their child's first and most important the whole child. teacher. We create a safe and nurturing Parents want what is best for their children.

7 Environment that sets the stage Knowledge, the application of learning, is for individualized learning empowering and expands personal vision. experiences. We strengthen families by expanding their Positive teamwork, on a variety of knowledge and use of personal and community levels, lays the groundwork for resources. quality programming. We strengthen communities by building authentic partnerships that are mutually beneficial. THE GOALS OF HEAD START . Head START is a family development program. The overall goal of the program is to increase the social competence of children, and to achieve that, Head START provides the child and his/her family with comprehensive services. In the West Central MN Head START program we provide: It is an educational and social skill building Education services to help improve the child's skills program for my child that I don't have to worry Medical services and health education about paying for . - -Head START Parent Dental services and dental education Mental health services to ensure healthy emotional development Nutrition services and nutrition education Services to families through linkages to appropriate community agencies Parent involvement in the classroom and at home visits; in making decisions about the program; in carrying through activities which parents develop for themselves and their family Page 4 WCMCA Head START Parent Handbook 2015-2016.

8 YOUR CHILD AND FAMILY'S. HEAD START EXPERIENCE. Head START services are somewhat different from community to community. It is important to us to provide the type of Head START experiences that the community needs and wants. Classes That Meet Four Days Per Week for three and one half-hours. Families in these classrooms also receive four home visits during the program year. Classes That Meet Three Days Per Week for three and one half hours. Families enrolled in these classrooms receive more home visits, usually eight during the school year Home Based Programming: Early Head START serves pregnant women, infants and toddlers birth to age 3. All families enrolled in Early Head START receive weekly home visits focused on child development and support parents as their child's most valuable teacher. Home Visits: All families in Head START receive home visits. The home is the young child's primary learning environment. The focus of the home visit is to support parents in their important role as the child's primary teacher.

9 Parenting can be very hard work. The best of parents struggle at times with fostering the growth and development of their child. Parent-Teacher Conferences: Each family participates in two parent-teacher conferences each year. The child's progress and accomplishments are discussed during a conference between the child's parents and the child's teacher. Parent Committee Meetings: Each center plans regular parent gatherings which often involve the whole family and may be paired with other early childhood community gatherings. WCMCA Head START Parent Handbook 2015-2016 Page 5. SCHOOL READINESS GOALS FOR WCMCA HEAD START . Summary of activities and results expected in the area of Child Development Language Development: Three times per year we assess the number of pictures each 4 year old can identify in 1 minute. Results: Children can identify 26. Literacy Development: Phonological Awareness o Three times per year we assess the number of rhymes each 4 year old can make.

10 Results: 4/5 rhymes correct. Book Knowledge and Appreciation o Three times per year we assess each child's growth in the use and appreciation of books as measured in Objective 17 Teaching Strategies GOLD. Result: Use books to gain information, ask questions about book. o Three times per year we assess each child's growth in his/her response to books and other texts by observing their interaction during read-alouds; book conversations; using their emergent reading skills and their ability to retell stories as measured in Objective 18 of Teaching Strategies GOLD. Result: Child is able to attend to story read and converse about the book. Alphabet Knowledge: o Three times per year we assess the number of letters each 4. year old can identify. Results: At least 10 letters. o Three times per year we assess the number of upper and lower case letters each 4 year old can name. Results: At least 10 letters, especially letters in the child's name or the names of classmates or family members.