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 Head Start and child care have much in common --- both
provide services to young children, both have frequent
contacts with parents, both work with children who have
special needs, and both may work with USDA nutrition
programs and with the public school systems as children
transition to school. Above all, both programs share a
commitment to providing quality services for all children
and families. Both child care and Head Start have a great
deal of knowledge and experience to offer each other.In
the tri-county area (Crow Wing, Morrison, and Todd),
several Head Start Child Care Partnerships have formed.
They are in both centers and licensed family child care
centers. Funding for start-up came through the McKnight
Welfare Reform grant. On-going funding comes from Head
Start/Early Head Start Federal Grants. The needs of
families transitioning from welfare to work have increased
the demand for full-day, full-year services.
By their structure, Head Start programs offer
comprehensive services: child development, social
services, health, mental health, and nutrition. In its
35-year history, Head Start has developed many promising
practices in parent involvement and family support
services. In addition to this, the child care delivery
system has a rich diversity of collaborative efforts
designed to best meet local needs and to provide full day
services, often despite limited resources.
As the needs of families change, a Head Start Child
Care Partnership is one-way professionals come together to
provide comprehensive full-day services to low-income
families where the parents are working or in training. A
Partnership offers choices and helps them overcome
scheduling and transportation problems, inadequate care,
and other barriers. |
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Head Start Family Child Care
The Head Start program contracts with licensed family
child care providers, who remain independent rather than
becoming Head Start employees. The child care provider is
also the Head Start teacher and receives a great deal of
support from the Head Start staff. This includes training
and technical assistance. Head Start staff, such as the a
Child Care Visitor, Family Services Worker, and Health
Services Workers, work closely with the enrolled families
and providers to ensure that they receive comprehensive
social and health services.
The provider gets the majority of his/her income from
child care subsidies, paid by local Social Services
agencies, with some fees being paid by parents. Funding to
cover the work she/he does as a Head Start provider above
and beyond child care licensing standards including home
conferences, curriculum planning, screening, staffing, and
record keeping comes from Head Start/Early Head Start
grants.
Providers who are Head Start Licensed Family Child Care
Partners are located in:
Several communities in the three county area |
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Head Start Child Care Center Partnership
Head Start services provided at a child care center follow
essentially the same arrangement as the family based
sites. Head Start provides the family service staff and
health staff, while paying the center for providing the
education components similar to center based options.
There are two centers participating: TCC Child Care Center
and the Campus Playhouse at Central Lakes College in
Brainerd. In February of 2002, a third center will open in
Little Falls at TCC.Since the beginning of these
partnerships, MFIP families have used these services. Many
parents have expressed gratitude for the opportunity to
enter the work force because of the availability of a
full-day program. The homes provide real life experiences
such as helping to prepare meals and learning good health
habits. They also provide numerous opportunities for the
children to develop social skills. A strong educational
foundation is provided for the children. |
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