LKLP Head Start
Our Mission
LKLP Head Start, a comprehensive child development program, seeks to enrich the lives of our families and strengthen self-sufficiency by giving roots and wings to our children:
About Head Start
Serving: Leslie, Knott, Letcher and Perry Counties
The LKLP Head Start program is a federally-funded program for preschool children from low-income families. The Head Start program is operated by local non-profit organizations in almost every county in the country.
Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They also receive free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks. They enjoy playing in a safe indoor and outdoor setting.
Head Start helps all children succeed. Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities. Most children in Head Start are between the ages of three and five years old. Services are also available to infants and toddlers at selected sites.
The LKLP Head Start program is funded to serve 618 preschool age children and their families and 40 infant, toddlers and pregnant women.
LKLP Head Start Program Goals 2008-2009
- To provide more assistance to grandparents rearing grandchildren
- To provide more assistance to incarcerated family members
- To increase the awareness of drug abuse throughout the community as well as continuing to provide supports for families and children
- To become more aware of recognizing symptoms and behaviors of children having drug dependency problems
- To assist pregnant women with prenatal care and provide child rearing training at local schools for teens
- To develop and implement a Risk Management Plan
- Continue to develop a community of learners that supports continuing education and staff professional development with emphasis on credentials for teachers and family service assistants
- To improve and strengthen appropriate and timely follow-up on referrals
- To continue efforts on improving Literacy and Numeracy skills
- To incorporate more physical activities into daily routines and provide resources and literature for families
- To continue incorporation of Youth Mentoring, in efforts to increase self-confidence and self-worth or preschool and elementary children
Main Head Start
Head Start offers a variety of services to help children succeed and prepare for their entry into elementary. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They receive free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks. They also enjoy playing in a safe indoor and outdoor setting.
Head Start Health & Development
Each child enrolled into Head Start will receive a medical, dental and eye examination. We will assist parents in arranging for and completing any needed follow-up to the examinations. Parents are urged to accompany their child on the initial visit to the doctor or dentist.
In addition, parents should be encouraged to prepare their children for health and developmental procedures, in order to increase their children's comfort levels, reduce their fears and anxieties and optimize children's performance and the validity of the procedures.
Children are taught good health and safety habits. Brushing teeth is part of the daily routine at each center. Self-esteem and social skills are supported throughout each day. Responsibilities as part of a group and the ability to express feelings are important parts of every activity.
In case of medical emergency, parents will be informed promptly and their child will be taken to the nearest medical help.
We must have each child's immunization certificate prior to enrollment and the beginning of class. Parents must bring a copy of the immunization certificate that we can keep.
A sick child should be kept home for their sake and the sake of the other children. This goes for children of the Head Start staff also. If a child comes to the center and is ill we will contact the parents. We will keep the child away from the other children to avoid exposing the children to a contagious condition.
Health Services
The Health Services Area seeks to improve the Head Start child's present health conditions. Through health services, LKLP Head Start supports parents, in playing the role in maintaining the health and condition of their children, and works to ensure the children's well-being.
Nutrition Services
The Nutrition Area keeps the children healthy by providing one half to two thirds of their daily nutritional requirements. Preschool children are provided breakfast, lunch and a snack. In addition to breakfast and lunch, infants and toddlers are provided both a morning and afternoon snack. Nutrition education is part of LKLP Head Start's curriculum.
Mental Health Services
The area of Mental Health focuses on the prevention, identification, referral and treatment. Through a variety of activities designed to help children, families and staff learn to practice skills that help them develop and maintain healthy habits, active involvement in Head Start promotes positive outlook, wellness and flexibility.
Education and Early Childhood Development
Education and Early Childhood Development Services provide a wide variety of experiences that encourage the development of language skills, physical strength and coordination, problem solving, self-confidence, appreciation of family, self and others. These experiences are appropriate for the children's age and individual interests. Head Start does its very best to provide an atmosphere that encourages the children to be self-motivated to learn because it brings joy.
Disability Services
Education and Early Childhood Development Services provide a wide variety of experiences that encourage the development of language skills, physical strength and coordination, problem solving, self-confidence, appreciation of family, self and others. These experiences are appropriate for the children's age and individual interests. Head Start does its very best to provide an atmosphere that encourages the children to be self-motivated to learn because it brings joy.
Head Start Parent Involvement
Parents are an important part of the Head Start Program. Parents may volunteer at the center and serve on the committees. LKLP Head Start offers parent education to all Head Start families. Special programs are available to each center group. We will also be glad to help parents enroll for their General Education Diploma (GED).
Involvement Services Provide:
1. Workshops and Training Sessions for Parents.
2. Counseling
3. Opportunities to be involved in program activities (volunteering)
4. Monthly Parent Committee Meetings
5. Opportunities to make decisions about program operations (Policy Council). Contact the Head Start Director on any ideas you may have about improving program operations.
6. Self-enhancement, Training, Field Trips, Special Activities.
7. Opportunity to apply for Kentucky Head Start Association.
8. Opportunity to apply for Kentucky Head Start Association Parent Scholarship.
9. Opportunities to be part of a child's education.
Each center will choose a parent facilitator who, with a staff facilitator, will set up parent support activities. They will plan sessions, secure trainers, obtain materials and report the training. In this way, the role of parents in decision-making is supported according to each group's individual needs.
Parent committees provide parents the opportunity to participate in activities that address their interests and needs and that support the education and healthy development of their child.
The Parent Activity Fund is money set aside to provide parents with opportunities and experiences in planning, developing and implementing projects initiated by them. The Parent Activity Fund can be used to or as:
1. Expenditures for projected related purposes.
2. Join parents up for the Kentucky Head Start Association.
3. Go to plays at Hazard and the Appalshop in Whitesburg for cultural enrichment.
4. Purchase supplies for parent workshops such as videos and materials.
5. Field trips to museums, zoos and other places for parents to experience with their children.
6. Pay for CPR, First Aid Training for parents.
7. Assist in a community project that will benefit their community.
To receive Head Start funds we must provide a 20% local match. So, it is vital that we have parents volunteer at the Head Start Centers. You will have fun and you will help Head Start to stay in the area.
If you are interested in volunteering please contact your Head Start Center or the Central Office.
The above list are suggestions that must be voted on at the Parent Committee meeting. Parents are encouraged to submit their own ideas.
Head Start Family & Community Partnerships
Family Services
The Family Services Area works with families in goal setting through family partnership agreement process, provides families with resource information, how to access community services, and has the responsibility of locating, identifying and maintaining funded enrollment as long as they qualify. The Family Service Assistance and Associate Teacher for Infant/Toddler serve as a link between the home and the school.
Community Partnerships
Head Start serves children and families in their communities and recognizes that many other agencies and groups work toward the same goals with the same families. Through strong community partnerships, Head Start fosters collaboration, quality services and the development of a community that shares responsibilities for children and families.
Parent Involvement Services
In the Parent Involvement Area, Head Start recognizes parents as the prime educator of and nurturer of their child and LKLP Head Start makes every effort to include the parents in the decision making process. We count on parent volunteers to help us meet our local share of the grant that we receive.
PARENTS HELP MAKE HEAD START TERRIFIC!!!
Head Start Calendar
Since many days will depend upon the winter weather we can only give general guidelines for the first part of the school year.
They are as follows:
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School Calendar Year 2008 - 2009
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August
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25
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Parent/Child Transition
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26
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Parent/Child Transition
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27
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Parent/Child Transition
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28
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First Full Day of School
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September
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3
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Labor Day Holiday
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November
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22 - 23
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Thanksgiving Holiday
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December
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19
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Last Day Before Christmas Holiday
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January
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2
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Return to School
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19
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Martin Luther King's Birthday (Observed)
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May
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26
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Memorial Day
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We will also have several In-Service/Work Days on which there will be no school - your child's teacher will notify you when these days are.
If during the winter and spring months public schools are canceled due to snow or flooding, the buses will not run. To accommodate parents who work or are in school, arrangements can be made for the center to be open if the parent provides transportation. Listen to your local radio station for the closing announcements.
Head Start Eligibility
LKLP Head Start is funded to serve children ages three (3) through five (5). These children are located at 20 centers in four counties - Leslie, Knott, Letcher and Perry. In Early Head Start we are funded to serve 40 children ages 0-3 in Letcher and Knott Counties. The children are selected through eligibility requirements regardless of race, creed, color or handicap conditions.
To enroll a child in Head Start parent's must have the following:
- Current Verification of Income
- Child's Birth Certificate
- Current Immunization Record (shot record)
- Medicaid Number (if applicable)
Services provided by the management area are:
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Supervise and monitor TOTAL program operations
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Preparation of Head Start Grant Package & Budget
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Ensure safe facilities, proper insurance, etc.
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Provide public relations for the program
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Recruitment and enrollment
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Policy Council
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Personnel, Human Resources
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Problem Solving - please call at once if you have a problem - don't wait until it is a crisis.
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Transportation
Below are the income guidelines for 2008 as they appeared in the Federal Registry.
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Size of Family Unit
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Poverty Guidelines
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1
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$10,400
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2
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$14,000
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3
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$17,600
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4
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$21,200
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5
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$24,800
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6
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$28,400
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7
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$32,000
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8
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$35,600
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For each additional person add $3,600
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Leslie
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Knott
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Letcher
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Perry
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Hayes Lewis
606-279-3301
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Beaver
606-447-2111
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Colson
606-633-9882
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Chavies
606-436-4393
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Hyden
606-672-3186
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Cordia
606-785-0139
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Cowan
606-633-0718
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Community
606-435-1888
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Stinnett
606-374-4574
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Emmalena
606-251-3404
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Jenkins
606-832-4012
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Leatherwood
606-675-7607
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W.B. Muncy
606-279-2257
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Lakeview
606-642-3690
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Mayking
606-633-5043
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Little Folk
606-439-3898
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Perkins
606-785-4604
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Mt. Heritage
606-633-3376
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R.W. Combs
606-476-2151
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Central Office
606-642-3317
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Pippa Passes
606-368-2407
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Head Start Application
If you would like to complete a Head Start application and submit it electronically, click on the following link: http://www.lklp.org/Programs/MainHeadStart/HeadStartPreApplication/tabid/148/Default.aspx