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Early Head Start (EHS) is a federally funded, community-based program for
low-income families with infants, toddlers, and pregnant women. Its
mission is simple: to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant
women, enhance the development of very young children, and promote healthy
family functioning. Fond du Lac Early Head Start serves pregnant women and
children up to age 3. Preference given to families of Native American
descent.
Early Head Start Cornerstones:
Child Development
Family Development
Community Building
Staff Development
Services for Children with Disabilities
Early Head Start offers both a center based and a home based option.
The Center based option offers services to children in an age
appropriate classroom where teachers work with children at a ratio of
1:4. The classroom day includes; outdoor/gym playtime, table activities,
health and nutrition activities, story time and other literacy
activities.
Home based teachers meet once a week with family in the child's home for 1.5 hours.
Twice a month, group socializations are held at the Head Start Center.
Home based offers all the same services as center based.
For more information contact us at (218) 878-8100.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Classroom Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00a.m. to 12:30p.m.
Child Development
- Early education services in a range of developmentally appropriate
settings.
- Home visits, especially for families with newborns.
- Parent education and parent-child activities.
- Comprehensive health and mental health services.
- High quality child care services,
offered on site.
Family Development
- Child development information offered to
families.
- Comprehensive health and mental health services, including
access to programs offering smoking
cessation and substance abuse treatment.
- Adult education, literacy, and job skills training to facilitate
family self-sufficiency.
- Assistance in obtaining income support, safe housing, or emergency
cash.
- Family partnerships developed with program staff.
Community Building
- Community assessments to assist in the design of the program in
order to meet the specific needs of pregnant women and families with
young children.
- Increase family access to community supports, make the most
efficient use of limited resources, and make changes to the program to
meet the changing needs of families in the community.
Staff Development
- Staff members must have the capacity to develop caring, supportive
relationships with both children and families.
- On-going training, supervision, and mentoring to emphasize
relationship building. Staff development will be grounded in
established "best practices" in the areas of child
development, family development, and community building.
Services for Children with Disabilities
- Families who have a child with special needs are encouraged to apply
and are given priority for enrollment.
- All children entering Head Start programs must complete a developmental
screening. If necessary, further testing is done to determine if the
child qualifies for special education services.
- Children who qualify for special education services have access to
all services outlined in their education plan including:
- Early Intervention Services
- Speech and Language
Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Early Childhood Special Education
- Children receive services in the least restrictive environment.
- A Disabilities Service Plan is updated annually outlining
disabilities services. Families of children with disabilities are
invited to participate in creating this plan.
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