Founded in 1965, the Head Start program was part of President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty. This federally funded program focuses on supporting low-income children in a variety of ways. Their social, emotional, nutritional, psychological and overall health needs are addressed. The purpose is quite literally to give underprivileged children a "head start" so that they will have a better chance of succeeding in school and beyond.
Head Start primarily targets preschool children ages 3-5 years, but there is now also an Early Head Start program that support infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families who are living below the federal poverty level. These children and families are supported in language and literacy, general knowledge, …show more content…
Since the program's inception in 1965, over 32 million children have been served. In my opinion, this program is invaluable to my community. Although there are many wealthy people living in the greater Boulder area of Colorado, there are even more families living below the poverty level. I have witnessed first hand how this program reaches out to these low-income families and provides valuable support and resources to them. Not only does this program specifically help the children, but it also provides significant support to the families (parents and siblings alike). I saw the relief and gratitude on the faces of the parents who dropped their children off. Not only did these parents know their children were in good hands and receiving help and support that they needed, but the parents themselves felt the support. The center near my home in which I volunteered has been providing a growing variety of services to families for 50 years. This center not only offers Head Start programs in 12 locations around my area, but also offers additional services to families such as family wellness services, mental health services, nutritional services and transportation services. So once families get "plugged in" to this center, they have access to numerous supportive services. This all contributes to stronger, healthier, more successful families which promotes healthy communities and successful children and
Head Start primarily targets preschool children ages 3-5 years, but there is now also an Early Head Start program that support infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families who are living below the federal poverty level. These children and families are supported in language and literacy, general knowledge, …show more content…
Since the program's inception in 1965, over 32 million children have been served. In my opinion, this program is invaluable to my community. Although there are many wealthy people living in the greater Boulder area of Colorado, there are even more families living below the poverty level. I have witnessed first hand how this program reaches out to these low-income families and provides valuable support and resources to them. Not only does this program specifically help the children, but it also provides significant support to the families (parents and siblings alike). I saw the relief and gratitude on the faces of the parents who dropped their children off. Not only did these parents know their children were in good hands and receiving help and support that they needed, but the parents themselves felt the support. The center near my home in which I volunteered has been providing a growing variety of services to families for 50 years. This center not only offers Head Start programs in 12 locations around my area, but also offers additional services to families such as family wellness services, mental health services, nutritional services and transportation services. So once families get "plugged in" to this center, they have access to numerous supportive services. This all contributes to stronger, healthier, more successful families which promotes healthy communities and successful children and