What does the Self Help Head Start program do?
The Head Start program of Self Help, Inc. is a comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family services program focused primarily on low income, pre-school children ages 3-5, and their families across thirty-one (31) Massachusetts communities, at six (6) Head Start Sites. (more info below)
What areas does the Self Help Head Start program serve?
The Self Help Head Start program serves children and their families at six (6) Head Start locations in Brockton, Middleboro, Norton, Norwood, Stoughton, and Whitman.
Self Help, Inc. Head Start sites are all licensed by the Mass. Department of Early Education and Care, and they are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
The towns we service include: Abington Attleboro, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Dedham, Easton E. Bridgewater, Foxboro, Franklin, Hanson, Holbrook, Mansfield, Middleboro, Norfolk, Middleboro, Norfolk, Norton, Norwood, N. Attleboro, Plainville, Randolph, Rockland, Sharon, Stoughton, W. Bridgewater, Whitman, Walpole, Wrentham, Westwood.
How the Head Start Program Works
Head Start regulations stipulate no more than 20 children per room, with a Teacher and an Assistant Teacher. The Head Start Program has 4 and 6 hour classrooms and is offered at no cost to families that qualify. We also offer a 10 hour Full Day Program for a sliding scale fee to families that qualify.
The Head Start program year begins at the beginning of October and runs through the middle of June each year. Transportation may be available for children depending on need and availability. Children receive a nutritious meal served family style for breakfast and lunch each day. All children are taught to wash their hands before meals and to brush their teeth after meals. The children are encouraged to develop good personal health habits. A nutritious afternoon snack is also provided in the 6 and 10 hour classrooms.
The Self Help Head Start program gives children a head start in life by providing them with activities that help them to develop mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. Head Start recognizes that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children, so parent involvement is not only welcome, but greatly encouraged.
Head Start staff offers children love, acceptance, understanding, and the opportunity to learn and to experience success. Parents can participate as full partners with those staff members to help children progress. Head Start children socialize with others, solve problems, and have other experiences to so improve their listening and speaking skills and help them become enthusiastic, self-confident learners. They spend time in stimulating settings to form good habits and enjoy playing with educational materials and working on tasks with classmates.
Children leave Head Start more prepared for kindergarten, excited about learning, and ready to succeed. Health professionals also assess children for any health problems, including arranging for vision and hearing tests, and assisting parents with needed immunizations. Head Start offers nutritional assessments and dental exams, too. Children with health needs receive follow-up services. Mental health and other services are available for children and families with special needs.