BCMW Head Start/Early Head Start is a comprehensive early education program for eligible families with children ages birth to five years old, including pregnant mothers. They also actively recruit children who are in foster care, are homeless, or have a suspected or diagnosed disability. BCMW HS/EHS staff will assist the family in reaching all their educational, developmental, health, and personal family goals to ensure every child receives the support they need to be ready for kindergarten and beyond.
BCMW Head Start/Early Head Start has been serving children and families for over 50 years in the Bond, Clinton, Franklin, Marion, and Washington County areas. Their mission is to engage and prepare children and families for success in school and throughout life by providing opportunities, experiences, resources, and advocacy. They offer free educational, health, nutritional, and social services to enrolled children and families in either a classroom setting or weekly one-on-one sessions with a Parent Educator. Full day, part day, and home base placement options vary by county. For children who are already enrolled in another preschool program, but may need extra services, BCMW HS/EHS can dual-enroll to assist the family in receiving the extra services the child and family may need.
BCMW Head Start/Early Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. Their programs are geared toward building relationships with families that support positive parent-child relationships, overall family well-being, and connecting parents with other parents and members of the community. They want the entire family to feel ready to transition to kindergarten and beyond.
October is recognized nationally as Head Start Awareness Month. BCMW Head Start/Early Head Start has been reaching out to the communities they serve to help raise awareness of the comprehensive services provided. Although BCMW HS/EHS works to build relationships and partnerships with the community all year long, staff put in extra effort in October each year to encourage the community to be a part of the mission of Head Start.
If you are willing to post the children’s artwork in your business, or would like to read a story, share a talent, share a meal, or otherwise engage with the children enrolled in the program, please email tina@bcmwheadstart.net or call 618-532-4890 ext. 151 to schedule a day and time.
BCMW Head Start/Early Head Start enrolls children all year long and there are still openings in some centers. If you or someone you know has a child who may qualify for the program, contact Angie at 618-532-4890 ext. 144 or complete an online pre-registration form at www.bcmwhs.org. You can also “like” and “share” their Facebook page: BCMWHeadStart.
If you are interested in a career in Early Childhood Education and would like to learn more about working for BCMW Head Start/Early Head Start, contact Deborah at 618-532-4890 ext. 129.
They are also looking for past Head Start children or parents to share their story about how the program helped to shape who they are today. Those stories can also be emailed to Tina at the address above.
