In the 1960s, a small project called Head Start was born during the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, as part of his "war on poverty." The program moved forward as part of a national effort initiated to give low-income children an educational boost in the summer months prior to their entrance in the public school system.
About that time, al local community action agency, Tri-County Community Council (TCCC), was beginning to spread its wings in a effort to provide a wide variety of services to those in need. Becoming a Head Start program administrator was a natural transition for TCCC, which has a founding history in program operations and innovation.
Today, TCCC's Head Start program has expanded, continues to grow, and continually reaches new levels of excellence in its operations and services to benefit children in the three counties it serves.
From one tiny center in Chipley with a small enrollment Tri-County has expanded to four Head Start centers in Washington, Holmes and Walton counties which now serve about 188 children annually with an impressive curriculum centered on educational advancement, physical and mental enrichment, socialization, and a whole-family approach.
It has expanded from the summer months-only mode to operations which coincide with the regular school year. And, further expansion is in the making. The Walton County Center located in DeFuniak Springs, has expanded its hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each weekday to accommodate working parents. The same is planned for the Chipley and Vernon centers in Washington County.
?We continue to evolve our operations to meet the needs of the families we serve,? said TCCC Head Start Director Betty Nehring. ?Now public assistance programs are focusing on placing recipients into the workplace. That certainly impacts the children we serve which means we must adapt our programs. More parents have to work to access public assistance requirements. We recognize that and have incorporated that element into our expansions to make sure the needs of our families are met.?
?The early childhood years for children have such a major impact on how they progress though the public education system and their ?adult lives,? Nehring added. ?The name Head Start says it all. We are here to give them a head start in life. That is, and will remain, our primary focus.?
Leaders and government officials in the three counties know what an important component Head Start is in providing early education for less fortunate children, but they also recognize the profound lasting impact it renders. The four centers operated by TCCC contribute $1.5 million annually to the local economy and provide jobs for 46 people. The operation is major and the impact is profound.
?This year, about $308,000 of those dollars must come from local matching, in the form of funds or in-kind. So anyone can see that full community involvement and support is necessary for Tri-County to keep the programs operational. This is an excellent example of a partnership which benefits many,? Nehring said.
The 25 percent matching requirement is also met in partnerships with such entities as Panhandle Area Education Consortium which provides screening for children, parental and community volunteer hours, and through the Florida Department of Corrections which offers inmates who work at the centers when Head Start is not in session,. Gifts and donations of money and supplies also count as part of the match. School districts help with transportation needs.
Children who attend Head Start are engaged in a program of learning to promote mental and creative growth. However, there are other important aspects that are sometimes overlooked. Enjoying good food in a program of planned nutrition is a major element in the Head Start student?s day. The children are fed breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack planned to greatly supplement their nutritional needs. Meals at the four centers are served family-style, which means children sit around tables in small groups with an adult and engage in conversation.
?You cannot teach a child who is hungry,? Nehring said. ?Two-thirds of the daily nutritional needs of each child are provided at the centers.
Exercise and play, music, the arts, early childhood computer technology, and home living skills are combined with story telling and reading, and the math and sciences. This combined daily curriculum is specifically designed to capture the attention and imaginations of children ages three and four. Each child receives a variety of learning experiences to foster intellectual, social, and emotional growth. They are encouraged to express themselves and to develop the confidence they will need to move more easily through the public education system and through life.
In addition to educational curriculum, a typical day includes circle time which allows children an opportunity to talk and share, outside play, tooth brushing, group activities, games, rest periods, and other activities which sometimes include field trips.
Playground time provides children with an opportunity to exercise and learn social skills. Tri-County?s playground facilities are some of the best in the area and they continue to be improved and expanded.
Nehring points out that the staff-to-child ratio is kept low at each Head Start Center to afford more attention to each child. Volunteers from the community and parental involvement are major components in providing a well-rounded daily program.
?The parents are so important. Some serve on parent committees and on our Head Start Policy Council which has a major impact on our daily operations.? Nehring explained. ?They volunteer in the centers, whether it?s reading aloud, spending classroom time to assist a student with a particular need, or monitoring and encouraging the children on the playground. We seek to involve the whole family in the education of their children, which is so crucial to their intellectual and social skills growth.?
Head Start is a community program, Nehring said.
Head Start also provides each child with a comprehensive health care program including medical, dental, mental health and nutritional services. Vision and hearing screenings, identification of any potential handicapping conditions and immunizations are included. Partnerships with Life Management and Even Start provide major linkages to assist in the comprehensive program of offerings available through the centers. An example is the Early Intervention Drug Prevention Program offered through Life Management.
?We are fortunate to have these services to offer our children and their families,? Nehring said.
Each center is staffed with teachers, aides and a cook.
?Tri-County is so fortunate to have such a committed, dedicated staff,? Nehring continued. ?Many of our staff has longevity with the program.?
Frances Pryor, director of Holmes County Head Start in Westville, is a prime example. The 30-year veteran recalls the early days of operations when staff members picked up children in their personal automobiles in an effort to get them to the centers.
?Of course, today that is not allowed by law, Pryor said. ?Children are transported on buses or vans. But back then we were determined to get this program operational and running for the sake of the little ones we served. Today, our staff is just as committed. They are here everyday and are so dependable and dedicated. They care about the children and their families.