Focus on Education Getting a “Head Start’ in the PSS Head Start Prugram By: Anthony Pellegrino

Every weekday morning while we adults rush off to work, 540 children between the ages of three and five march off to school to participate in the Head Start Program. In this exciting early childhood program thousands of our children have gotten a “head start’ towards education before they enter the kindergarten or the first grade. For those of us unfamiliar with this little known program, let’s discuss how it came about and what it is.

The Head Start is a Federal program guided by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families. Since its inception in 1965, it has assisted over 15.3 million children of American and local families. Basically it is an early childhood program serving children ages 3 to 5 and their families. The program aims to provide to children and their families education, health, disability assistance, parental involvement and social services. In summary, Head Start provides comprehensive services for America’s low income preschool children ages three to five and social services for their families.

Its major components are four:

a) Education–Head Start’s educational program is designed to meet the needs of each child, the community served, and its ethnic and cultural characteristic.

b) Health–Head Start emphasizes the importance of the early identification of health problems. Every child is involved in a comprehensive health program, which includes immunizations, medical, dental, and mental health, and nutritional services.

c) Parental Involvement–parents are strongly encouraged to become involved through parent education classes, program planning, and operating activities. Through active participation parents learn about the needs of their children and about educational activities that can take place at home.

d) Social Services–specific services are geared to each family after its needs are determined. They include: community outreach, referrals, family need assessments, recruitment and enrollment of children, and emergency assistance and/or crisis intervention.

In 1998, the Federal government provided $4.355 billion dollars to total Head Start programs throughout the States and Territories. The PSS who is responsible for the program received for 1998, $1,300,000 to which local funds of $947,000 were added for a total of $2,247,000. Of this total amount $1,800,000 went to personnel and $400,000 for operations.

The Head Start Program director Dino Taitano stated that he oversees 15 centers of which 12 are located in Saipan, one in Tinian and two in Rota. He is inviting parents to join in one or more of the three committees that help operate the centers. There is the Center-Parent Involvement Committee, The Head Start Policy Council and the Health Advisory Committee.

The real strength and success of this program depends on parental involvement and volunteers. Parents are encouraged to attend Friday workshops to broaden their skill and knowledge about parenting. For example, parents can help in the classrooms as aides or work with disabled children. At present there are about two disabled children at each center. The class hours for the morning session are 7:30 to 11:30 A.M. and 12:30 to 3:30 P.M. for the afternoon session.

Join the nationwide army of over 1,239,000 volunteers yearly who help make the Head Start Program the success it is. Currently each local center has only two volunteers each but need many more.

Your reward will be the joy of seeing a young child’s eyes brighten when you reach out to him. This feeling of fulfillment is rarely experienced elsewhere. Share in the fantasy world of children as you and they explore the world of learning through discovery. You do not need a degree to volunteer just a willingness to help.
Please call Dino Taitano at 644-3751 now to volunteer.