What are the components of a Head Start program?
Head Start takes a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of young children. There are four major components to Head Start: • Education: Providing a variety of learning experiences to help children grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally. • Health: Providing health services such as immunizations, dental, medical, and mental health, and nutritional services, and early identification of health problems. • Parent Involvement: Involving parents in the planning and implementation of activities. Parents serve on policy councils and committees that make administrative decisions; participate in classes and workshops on child development; and volunteer in the program. • Social Services: Provide outreach to families to determine what services they need. Who receives funding to operate Head Start programs? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awards grants to local public and private non-profit agencies. The federal resources contribute 80 percent of the cost of a program
