Head Start/Early Head Start
Head Start/Early Head Start believes that parents are the most important influence on a child's academic as well as personal success. Parents are encouraged to participate in their child's infant/toddler and preschool experiences. Our comprehensive program is designed to include families and to provide information and support in education, nutrition and health care for all.
Head Start is a comprehensive preschool program designed to offer accessible quality childcare and education to children ages three to five years old of all cultural, linguistic, religious, and ethnic backgrounds. From its inception, program eligibility has allowed for up to ten percent of Head Start families to be above low income guidelines.
In 1964, the Federal Government asked a panel of child development experts to draw up a program to help communities meet the needs of disadvantaged preschool children. This panel report became the blueprint for Project Head Start.
Project Head Start, launched as an eight-week summer program by the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1965, was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs. Recruiting children age three to school entry age, Head Start was enthusiastically received by education and child development specialists, community leaders and parents across the Nation. Head Start serves children and their families each year in urban and rural areas in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories, including many Native Americans and migrant children.
On May 18, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson announced the creation of the Head Start Program to provide preschool education for low income families and offer children a foothold on the path to the American dream. The program began that summer, serving 560,000 children and their families across the nation.
HOPES CAP, Inc. was awarded its first Head Start grant in 1966. The program has had successful Federal Monitoring Reviews every three years since its inception. The most recent taking place in March 2010 when the program was rated “excellent all around” by the Federal Review Team, and the program was found to be in compliance with all Head Start Performance Standards.
The cornerstone of the Head Start Program is parent and community involvement - which has made it one of the most successful preschool programs in the country. Approximately 1,400 community based non-profit organizations and school systems develop unique and innovative programs to meet the specific needs of their communities.
The HOPES CAP, Inc. Early Head Start Program serves 104 low-income infants and toddlers (including children with disabilities) and 18 expectant women in Plainfield, Hoboken and Jersey City. This interdisciplinary team model provides comprehensive family services similar to Head Start’s, that begin before birth with a focus on:
- Prenatal (before birth) support to ensure the health of the mother and her baby;
- Preparing parents, siblings and other family for the birth and caring for the new baby (as well as themselves);
- Developing the bond between child and family from birth to age 3 that ensures happy and healthy development.
- Weekly/Year round Home visiting program for expectant women and families enrolled in the Home Based Program Option.
- Work with families enrolled in EHS to foster the growth and development of their child.
HOPES CAP, Inc. offers two program options through its Early Head Start Program. The first is a Home Based Program Option, and the second is a Center Based Program Option. In additions, HOPES CAP, Inc. offers services to expectant women. Both program options provide comprehensive, holistic, and inclusive services including medical, dental, mental health, nutrition, and education, as well as a practical partnering. The Early Head Start Program has an intensive approach to work with parents to ensure the child is nurtured, supported, enriched, and challenged to develop to their fullest potential.
The Home-Based Program Option is unique and effective because it allows qualified staff to provide services to children and families in the environment where they are most comfortable and familiar with, so they can support the learning opportunities children experience every day when they use household items and participate in daily routines. Through the Home Based Program Option, HOPES CAP, Inc. provides weekly home visits and socialization activities for enrolled infants, toddlers and their families. During the home visit, staff and families work together to identify and meet the child’s development needs and goals. The socialization activities include infant /parent playgroups and toddler/parent playgroups that meet weekly.
The Center Based Early Head Start Program Option offers families 7 hours of infant/toddler care and education in a classroom setting. The center-based model is staffed by staff credentialed with Child Development Associate specializing in Infants/Toddlers. Children are served nutritious meals. The infant toddler curriculum is individualized to meet the physical, intellectual, and social-emotional needs of each child. Volunteers, including families, are recruited to assist the classroom staff. Home visits are made quarterly to families enrolled in Early Head Start Centers.
Eligibility: Pregnant women and children ages birth through 3 years that meet Federal Eligibility Guidelines (100% of poverty level).
Services:
- Home Based Program Option - Weekly Home Visits & Socialization Groups
- Center Based Program Option
- Assessments
- Health Screenings
- Workshops and Training
- Mental Health Counseling
- Women’s Support Group
- Referrals to Healthcare Providers
- Father Involvement Activities
The goal of our Education & Early Childhood Development Content Area is to provide a comprehensive child development program that addresses the present and future social, cognitive, emotional, and physical needs of the Head Start child and his/her family. An interdisciplinary team approach is advocated.
The learning environment is geared to the ages and the developmental levels of the children in each classroom and/or home.
Procedures are developed and implemented which allow staff to identify each child's strengths, limitations, and special needs, and how to best meet those needs. The procedures include IFSP or IEP's for the children with disabilities, their families, and individualized planning for all children.
The children are exposed to their community and areas outside the center environment. Field trips include activities relating specifically to local community events, organizations, and businesses which provide unique learning experiences for children and their families. The program uses the Tools of the Mind Curriculum in Hoboken, High Scope Curriculum in Plainfield, and Early Head Start Programs in Plainfield, Hoboken, and Jersey City.
Each child is provided with both teacher and child initiated activities to foster:
- Language Development
- Literacy Skills
- Mathematics Knowledge & Awareness
- Science Knowledge & Awareness
- Creative Arts Expression
- Social & Emotional Development
- Positive approaches to Learning
- Physical Health & Development
Head Start/ Early Head Start's commitment to wellness embraces a comprehensive vision of health for children, families, and staff. Services also include dental health and dental wellness.
The objective of the Health & Nutrition Services Content Area is to ensure that, through collaboration and partnerships with families, staff, and health professionals, all children's health and developmental concerns are identified. And children and families are linked to an ongoing source of continuous, accessible care to meet their basic health needs.
The staff is trained to identify health problems and refer to the appropriate agency for follow up. The program receives support from three public school nurses and a volunteer Dental Consultant who provides an initial dental screening. Prevent Blindness receives funding to provide training support and follow up for vision screenings. Staff is also certified to conduct vision screenings. Hearing screenings are also conducted by a qualified staff member. Immunizations are kept current through careful monitoring and referrals to health agencies.
HOPES CAP, Inc. Head Start/Early Head Start has a well established Health Services Advisory Committee. This is a drawing together of local health care professionals, Head Start staff, parents, and local community residents who assist with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of all of the Early Childhood Development Health Services provided to children and families.
USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
The program provides breakfast, lunch, and snack daily. Meals are prepared on site and are reflective of the cultures served. Menus are planned by a registered Dietician. Special diets and food allergies are accommodated as specified by physicians. Age appropriate snacks are also served during socialization groups for families participating in the Early Head Start Home-Based program option.
Head Start/Early Head Start offers parents opportunities and support for growth, so that they can identify their own strengths, needs, interests, and find their own solutions. The objective of the Family & Community Partnerships Content Area is to support parents as they identify and meet their own goals, nurture the development of children in the context of their family and culture, and advocate for communities that are supportive of children and families. The building of trusting, collaborative relationships between parents and staff allows them to share with and to learn from one another.
HOPES CAP, Inc. Head Start/Early Head Start is fortunate to offer services to the child and family in the area of mental health and disabilities. There are two full time mental health and disabilities specialists on staff that supports the teachers and families. The Child Wellness staff supports the teachers and families by providing plans and strategies to assist the child in having a successful school experience. The Mental Health/Disabilities Specialists can offer psycho-education, individual, group, and/or family therapy to address various issues, such as family stress, parent separations, grief, ADHD, etc. All of these services can be provided in the classroom or therapy room.
For more information about HOPES CAP, Inc. please contact:
HOPES CAP, Inc.
301 Garden Street
Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
Phone: (201) 795-1576
E-Mail: info@hopes.org
