Early
Head Start
Our Mission
We at PCCEO, Inc. Early Head Start and
Head Start identify ourselves as partners in the delivery
of high quality, comprehensive services to economically
challenged families and children in Peoria County.
Our Value Statement
PCCEO EHS and HS is dedicated to providing
quality services to children and families. We value honesty,
respect, justice, equity, personal development and professional
growth. It is our desire to promote these values for our
organization and our community through effective leadership
and teamwork.
Program Services
Early Head Start involves intensive,
comprehensive services that begin before the child is
born. The program concentrates on enhancing child development
and supports the family during the critical first three
years of the child's life. Staff respond to the unique
strengths and needs of each individual child, based on
each family's readiness and willingness to participate
in the process. Our program services include, but are
not limited to:
- quality early education both in and
out of the home;
- parenting education;
- comprehensive health and wellness services,
including prenatal and postnatal care for infants and
mothers;
- nutrition education;
- service coordination/case management;
- individualized family service plans;
and
- collaboration and coordination of services
within the community.
Program Design and Options
As with Head Start, Early Head Start offers
children and families comprehensive child development
services through center-based, home-based, and combination
program options. Children and families enrolled in center-based
programs receive comprehensive child development services
in a center-based setting. In home-based settings children
and their families are supported through weekly home visits
by a Family and Community Development Specialist (FCD).
Bi-monthly group socializations are provided to strengthen
and support relationships by giving parents the opportunity
to obtain feedback from staff and other parents about
their child's interest, strengths or needs while learning
from others about the challenges and joys of parenting.
Eligibility
Early Head Start (EHS) is a early childhood
development program primarily for low income families
who meet the Federal Poverty Guidelines. However, in accordance
with Head Start Performance Standards, 10% of the total
number of enrollment opportunities are made available
to children with disabilities. Upon enrollment, children
and or expectant mothers are eligible for EHS services
thru the child’s third birthday.
2008 Income Guidelines:
| Size of Family |
Poverty
Guideline |
1...........................................$10,400
2...........................................14,000
3...........................................17,600
4...........................................21,200
5...........................................24,800
6...........................................28,400
7...........................................32,000
8...........................................35,600 |
For family units with more than 8 members,
add $3,600 for each additional member.
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Infant/Toddler Child Development
Recent information from neuroscience indicates
that the brain is developing very rapidly during the first
three years of life. This time period is a "window
of opportunity" for parents and professionals to
significantly impact children's development (Parents as
Teachers).
The overreaching goals of Early Head Start
focus on the healthy cognitive, physical, social, and
emotional development of infants and toddlers. Research
on early brain development has demonstrated that, to thrive,
children from birth to age 3 need a variety of positive
learning experiences provided in a secure and loving environment.
In recognition that parents are the primary educators
of their children, EHS programs are designed to work with
families to ensure that the developmental needs of each
child are met. Early Head Start Staff are certified to
implement Parents as Teachers "Born to Learn"
approach to development and are certified Family and Community
Development Specialists.
Health
Early Head Start seeks to provide comprehensive
health services to children and families through prevention
and early identification of health and developmental concerns.
Through links to community health services, each family
is encouraged and supported to establish a "medical
home" where children receive routine health care.
Our goal is to facilitate an ongoing relationship with
a health care provider. Our staff helps families to establish
preventative dental services and treatment. To ensure
that infants' and toddlers' teeth and gums are healthy,
we create and assist parents with opportunities to be
well-informed of early dental needs.
Early Head Start programs provide health
and developmental screenings upon enrollment and periodically
throughout children's participation in the program.
EHS stays current on local and national
health concerns that affect the children and families
of the program. Childhood obesity, lead poisoning among
young children, and the need to address health literacy
of the parents, have led to educational gaps in Peoria
County. In collaboration with other community organizations,
EHS has and is addressing these local and national concerns
and how they affect the children and families of the program.
Disabilities
In recognition of the value and worth
of all children, Early Head Start requires inclusion of
children with disabilities. The Head Start Performance
Standards require that at least 10 percent of the total
number of enrollment opportunities be made available to
children with disabilities. Children with disabilities
are defined as those children who are eligible for services
under State regulations governing Part C of the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a Federal
law that is implemented at the State and local levels
to provide screening, assessment, an, for eligible children,
early intervention services based on Individualized Family
Service Plans (IFSP).
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Family Partnerships
Parents are true partners in EHS programs.
Each program has a formal structure of shared governance
through which parents can participate in policy-making
and other decisions about the program. Participation in
policy groups, parent committees, and governing bodies
empowers parents and community members to share in the
decision-making process. EHS offers parents opportunities
for their own growth and support in identifying and meeting
goals. Families and staff collaboratively design and routinely
update individualized family partnership agreements to
ensure that service delivery strategies are responsive
to the individual goals of families. Referrals are made,
as appropriate, to other community resources and services
that support each family's needs and goals.
EHS offers training opportunities for
parents such as:
• Exploring Parenting
• Self-esteem classes,
• Infant/Child CPR and First Aid,
• Mental health and counseling,
• Nutritional education
• Basic life skills
Families are also offered the opportunity
to attend Socializations twice monthly in which they share
a nutritious meal, conversation with other families as
well as participate in parent/child activities that the
entire family can enjoy.
Community Partnerships
Early Head Start serves families within
the context of the community and recognizes that many
other agencies and groups may work with the same families.
With this in mind, EHS programs collaborate with partners
in their communities in order to:
- provide the highest level of services
to children and families;
- maximize available resources;
- foster the development of a continuum
of family-centered services; and
- advocate for a community that shares
responsibility for the healthy development of children
and families of all cultures.
Professional Development
Only by continually arming ourselves
with current research, techniques and knowledge in our
various service areas, can we be effective early childhood
providers. For this reason, professional development is
an integral part of the program’s commitment to
continuous quality improvement. All EHS Staff must successfully
complete the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential
or other appropriate training within 1 year of employment.
All Early Head Start teachers have either an Associates
degree (AA) or a Bachelor’s degree(BA) and are continuing
their education by attending workshops, seminars and college
courses. Currently, EHS teaching staff exceed state licensing
and federal performance standards for Early Childhood
staff. By 2013 at least 50% of the teaching staff will
have Bachelor of Art degrees.
Training and monthly in-service training
are planned foOngoing staff training, supervision and
mentoring are central to EHS staff development efforts.
Pre-service trr all teaching staff. EHS collaborates with
Peoria Education Partners (PEP), Child and Family Connections
(CFC), Starnet and other agencies in providing professional
development opportunities.
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request further information, please click here.
