Children at the Martin Luther King Center practice proper tooth brushing techniques( above); Attending Head Start classes at the Elgin Station Community Center has helped Vanessa Fletcher’ s children Mehki and Anasha Jones( right) with learning chronological numbers, the ABCs, and writing their names.
both academic and behavioral gains, have better health as teenagers and adults, have higher high school and college graduation rates, and Head Start parents become much more engaged in their children’ s education and lives.”
In operation for more than 40 years, Washington County’ s Head Start program currently serves 483 children, and the impact of the program shines through its young success stories. Jessica Manning’ s daughter, Alleylynn, has been involved with HSWC at the Martin Luther King Center location since 2011. Due to Alleylynn’ s inquisitive personality, Jessica was sure her daughter would be a good fit, and the result has been overwhelmingly positive.“ She has learned so much in just a few months: how to count to 12, the alphabet, memorizing songs and their words.” And that’ s not just a mother’ s pride: Alleylynn’ s teachers report that she has surpassed expectations, describing a bright and articulate child who“ exceeds standards.” Vanessa Fletcher learned about HSWC when she was living at the Salvation Army Shelter. In the short amount of time her children, Mehki Jones and Anasha Jones, have been attending Head Start at Elgin Station, she says her kids are now able to write their names, to recite their ABC’ s, and to count chronological numbers.“[ Head Start ] is wonderful and is such a blessing,” Vanessa says.
BUILDING STRONG FAMILIES In addition to early childhood education programs, Head Start also offers basic health screenings for children, nutrition services, family services and referrals to other agencies if needed, as well as parent meetings and training in topics like positive parenting, nutrition, and budgeting and credit. Services vary depending on the neighborhood and needs of the community. The Elgin Station Center provides a full day program— 7 a. m.– 5:30 p. m. Monday through Friday— for infants to preschool-age children. For this location, eligible families are required to provide a Child Care Voucher from the Department of Social Services to enroll. Paul says that the greatest demand is for Head Start’ s part-day programs offered at their Noland
Village, Martin Luther King Center and Sargent Shriver Center locations. These sites offer meals for the children during partial day programs Monday through Thursday. HSWC also provides transportation for more than 238 children to morning and afternoon classes at the Martin Luther King Center and the Sargent Shriver Center. For families that cannot attend classes at these locations, HSWC offers a Home Base option in which teachers visit participants’ homes once a week.
To qualify for HSWC programs, families must provide documentation of need
30 May / June 2013 Hagerstown: The Best of Life in Washington County & Beyond