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© Salt Lake CAP
Head Start
ThirstyPixel
Press Press Releases Salt Lake Community Action Program Mission The Mission of The Salt Lake Community Action Program is to eliminate the paradox of poverty in our affluent society. Salt Lake CAP Head Start Mission and Vision The Mission of The Salt Lake CAP Head Start is to nurture and educate young children, empower families, and partner with communities through professional and valued staff. Our Vision is that we will carry out our mission so successfully that we will impact and/or eliminate the cycle of poverty for our families. Guiding Principles At Salt Lake CAP Head Start, we commit to conducting our professional lives while adhering to these guiding principles: • Commitment • Integrity • Leadership • Positive attitude • Respect for others • Initiative • Innovative/Progressive style • Empowering attitude • Non-judgmental approach Local Salt Lake CAP Head Start Contact Information: Administrative Office 1307 South 900 West Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 Phone: 801-977-1122 Fax: 801-977-3929 Web Site: www.headstart-slcap.org Nicole E. Droitsch Public Relations Representative, ext. 432 Email: ndroitsch@slcap.org Head Start Services Head Start provides diverse services to meet the goals in the following four areas: EDUCATION - Head Start's educational program is designed to meet the needs of each child, and its ethnic and cultural characteristics. Every child receives a variety of learning experiences to foster intellectual, social, physical and emotional development. In addition Head Start emphasizes language, literacy and numeracy as primary aspects of the curriculum. HEALTH - Head Start emphasizes the importance of the early identification, prevention and intervention of health problems. Every child is involved in a comprehensive health program, which includes immunizations, medical, dental, mental health, and nutritional services. PARENT INVOLVEMENT - An essential part of Head Start is the involvement of parents in parent education, program planning, and operating activities. Many parents serve as members of Policy Councils and committees and have a voice in decision-making. Participation in classes and workshops on child development and staff visits to the home allow parents to learn about the needs of their children and about educational activities that can take place at home. SOCIAL SERVICES - Specific services are geared to each family after its needs are determined. They include: community outreach; referrals; strengths assessment; recruitment and enrollment of children; and emergency assistance and/or crisis intervention. Salt Lake CAP Head Start Service Facts:
History of Head Start In 1964, the Federal Government asked a panel of child development experts to design a program to help communities overcome the barriers of disadvantaged preschool children. The findings of that 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, child development specialists, community leaders and parents across the nation. In 1969, Head Start was transferred from the Office of Economic Opportunity to the Office of Child Development in the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and has now become a program within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services. A well established, though still an innovative program, Head Start has had a strong impact on communities and early childhood programs across the country. Head Start programs are operated by over 1500 community-based organizations. Grantees include school districts, universities, community health centers, tribal governments, Alaska Native Corporation, city and county governments, Community Action Agencies, and other profit and nonprofit organizations. Salt Lake CAP Head Start History Salt Lake CAP opened its first Head Start the summer of 1965, with 34 students in two classrooms. By September of 1966 the program was deemed so successful Salt Lake CAP was funded to run the program during the school year. Throughout the past 37 years, Salt Lake CAP has been the Grantee Agency for the Salt Lake and Tooele counties. In the late 60's, Granite and Salt Lake City School Districts became delegates of the Salt Lake CAP program; administering Head Start programs in Granite, Jordan and Salt Lake City schools. In 1993 Jordan School District was added as a delegate to administer their area. In an effort to ensure equal quality to all Head Start families Salt Lake CAP became the single Head Start Grantee in 2000, fully administering the program without the use of delegates. This transition has lead to a stronger program, being the foremost supplier of quality early childhood services in the Salt Lake and Tooele counties. Currently Salt Lake CAP Head Start serves over 2000 families in 70 classrooms. Head Start Facts In a comparative study investigating the motivation of children enrolled in Head Start, children in cities who were not enrolled in Head Start, and middle class children enrolled in an affiliated preschool, Head Start children were found to have a greater degree of motivation than their non-Head Start peers. Head Start has immediate positive effects on children’s socio-emotional development, including self-esteem, achievement motivation, and social behavior. By the end of their Head Start year, children scored higher in all three areas than their non Head Start peers. Head Start parents reported positive changes in their personal lives, behaviors, and attitudes-including an increase in knowledge of available social services and resources.
(Above information compiled from The Impact of Head Start Children, Families, and Communities: Head Start Synthesis Project (1995); US. Department of Health And Human Services, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families) excluding the last notation of the George Mason University Poll. Salt Lake CAP Head Start Testimonials "Head Start has been a real life starter for me. I was a single parent of two children. I had no skills, no job and no real future when I enrolled my oldest child. I started to volunteer in the class and the teachers helped me realize that I could do something with my life, and that I could make a difference in other lives as well. They helped me build my self-esteem and encouraged me to go back to school to get my high school diploma. They are the ones who gave me the information and resources to go back to school. I not only received my diploma, I did something I didn't think possible... I gave a speech at our graduation ceremony and I owe it all to the Head Start Program and staff." -Marci, Head Start Parent "The Head Start Program has helped my family in times of great need, especially with medical treatment for my children. There were times when I had no money at all. Through the medical program at Head Start my children were able to receive their immunizations that they needed. If it was not for this service, I do not know where I could of gone." -Leanne, Head Start Parent "My son Paul has benefited in so many ways from Head Start. As a whole, he has become much more sociable and communicative, his speech has improved dramatically, and he is able to express his feelings verbally. In other words, Head Start helps children become more mature, realize their place in society, and think and act constructively. I can't stress enough the importance of this program, and the necessity of all its services. As a group, children can achieve much more then on their own. They fight their fears more effectively, are more open for new choices and opportunities, and make better friends while experiencing together every aspect of life." -Anna, Head Start Parent "I researched all over the valley for the best preschool for my son; I found it in Head Start. They have the highest of quality teachers and resources I have seen in the area. I enrolled him immediately. Shortly after I realized two additional benefits I had not put at the top of my list but are invaluable to our experience, the parent involvement and the diversity piece. These two added components make his preschool experience more enriched than I could have imagined." -Erica, Community Head Start Parent "I have worked for Head Start for over 35 years, it is so rewarding and dynamic. I feel so lucky to watch not only the children grow but the families too. I have seen people's lives changed; I have seen families realize their potential and reach it. It is amazing! I am always challenged to learn more and always given the opportunities and the resources to do so. Being part of a national organization puts us on the cutting edge of our field. The research and studies done by and about Head Start show us to be the hallmark of early childhood education and family development. This is not a job for me, it is a passion." -Krista, Head Start Employee "I am a nursing student at Brigham Young University. I am also a single parent and my daughter is in the Salt Lake CAP Head Start program. I was first introduced to Head Start as a volunteer nurse. I did health screenings and reviewed immunization records for the children in several Head Start classes. Some of the 4 and 5 year-old children had poor hygiene and health histories for their short lives thus far. We detected nutritional and child eating disorders by monitoring heights and weights. We uncovered a metabolic disorder. Other deficiencies were found through blood tests. Speech therapy was begun for a little girl that would not have received it without Head Start. As you can see, from my experience Head Start is much more than just a preschool. The program detects health needs and allows for healthy playful days! -Kristi, Volunteer Head Start Nurse Head Start Statistics Information from Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES), an ongoing, national, longitudinal study of 3,200 children and families in 40 Head Start programs. The four central questions related to program performance are as follows: 1. Does Head Start enhance children's development and school readiness?
2. Does Head Start strengthen families as the primary nurturers of their children?
3. Does Head Start provide children with high quality educational, health and nutritional services?
4. How is classroom quality related to child outcomes?
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