Head Start and Early Head Start Programs

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 We provide high-quality health, oral health, mental health, and nutrition services that are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and that will support each child's growth and school readiness. 

 All children/pregnant moms enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start program will have a nutrition assessment completed during enrollment to identify family eating patterns, cultural preferences, and to identify those at nutritional risk.  The annual community assessment will identify major nutrition issues in the community. 

Integrate parent and family engagement strategies into all systems and program services to support family well-being and promote children's learning and development.

The program ensure teachers and other relevant staff provide responsive care, effective teaching, and an organized learning environment that promotes healthy development and children's skill growth aligned with the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five, including for children with disabilities.

The ESC develops and maintain positive, supportive relationships with child development staff as well as conducts classroom observations as a foundation for determining teaching staff needs.  Promote best practices in early childhood development based on Head Start Performance Standards, Creative Curriculum, PITC Philosophy, Texas Child Care Licensing Guidelines, and other prescribed curricula used to advance the quality of teaching.

The purpose of this department is to determine community strengths, needs, resources, verifying and documenting eligibility, recruitment of children, selection process, enrollment, and attendance.