We are proud to be the local grantee for the Muskogee County Head Start and Early Head Start program! More than 500 Muskogee County families are served through these programs, providing not only early childhood education, but also services in the areas of health, nutrition, disabilities and behavioral health.
What is Head Start?
Head Start provides comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills needed to be successful in school. Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through improved access to educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and their families.
Who is eligible for Head Start?
Children and pregnant women from low-income families may be eligible to participate and may be enrolled through a locally established selection process based upon a community needs assessment. Children in foster care or experiencing homelessness, and children with developmental disabilities are also eligible to participate.
Head Start Staff
More than half the Head Start classroom teachers in Oklahoma have earned associate, bachelor, or advanced degrees in early childhood education. Nearly all teachers without a degree are enrolled in early childhood degree programs.
Benefits of Head Start
Educational:
- Individualized learning programs
- Evidence and research based curriculum
- Inclusion of children with special needs
- Family literacy activities
- Alignment of curriculum and assessments with public schools
Health:
- Medical, dental, vision and hearing screenings and referrals
- Nutrition services
- Health education
- Mental health screening and referrals
- Assistance in establishing a medical and dental home
Family
- Links to community resources
- Family goal setting and parenting education
- Leadership opportunities through parent council involvement
- Parent education programs
- Support during transition from Head Start to public schools
