Hagerstown May/June 2013 | Page 31

Head Start of Washington County Provides Crucial Child Development Services for Families in Need.
HELPING HANDS

Off to a Good Start

Head Start of Washington County teacher John Williams reads to children at the nonprofit’ s Martin Luther King Center in Hagerstown, one of four locations where Head Start provides education, developmental services, family services, health and nutrition programs and more to children and families in need. by Dominique Marsalek + photos by Chris Jackson
Head Start of Washington County Provides Crucial Child Development Services for Families in Need.

An abundance of research has demonstrated the important role that the early years of a child’ s life— years in which the brain is still forming— represent a critical window of opportunity to developing a child’ s full potential. Early nurturing and educational experiences from birth to 5 years old shape important social, cognitive and academic skills that translate into success and health later in life. At Head Start of Washington County( HSWC), part of the national Head Start program, administrators, educators and volunteers strive to“ provide children with nurturing experiences, a strong foundation for developmental growth and opportunities to achieve school readiness,” says Executive Director Paul Pittman Jr.“ Studies have shown that for every dollar invested in Head Start and similar quality childcare programs, there is a 7-percent to 17-percent return on the dollars invested. Head Start children make

Hagerstown: The Best of Life in Washington County & Beyond May / June 2013 29