Head Start program expands local offerings

A new five-classroom Head Start child development program will start in early fall, but in the meantime, parents can apply for an in-home Head Start program that will include one educational visit per week and two large group parent-child activities each month.

Head Start will begin occupying the offices from 610 to 614 Elm St., which during the 1970s were the home of Harris Middle School, this fall. The most recent use for the space has been offices, and so it will have to be renovated back into classroom space. The in-home program is designed as an interim solution until those new classrooms are available.

Families interested in the interim in-home program should call (931) 580-4019 for more information about eligibility and enrollment.

"Head Start's mission is to serve the whole child and their family," according to an e-mail from Joann Benson, director of Head Start and Early Head Start for the South Central Human Resource Agency. "We recognize the parent as the primary educator of their children and therefore understand the need to work with the entire family. All EHS/HS participants receive education, health, mental health, dental, nutrition and family services.

According to Benson, the basic Head Start program serves low-income (Federal poverty level and below) children ages 3-5 and their families. The children come to a Head Start center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the school year, September through May, to receive education services. Head Start currently serves 48 children at its center at 515 Rock St., 32 children at 2011 South Cannon Blvd., and 17 at the Wartrace Community Center. The program will expand by 51 children with the addition of the new space on Elm Street.

The interim in-home program will provide a 90-minute home educational visit by a teacher each week, with a twice-monthly group event for children and parents.

There is also an Early Head Start program at 512 Tillman St., serving children from birth to 3 years as well as pregnant women. The objective of Early Head Start, according to Benson, is "to give our low-income and therefore at-risk children a chance at success in school and in life. We work with pregnant women to encourage them to have regular doctor prenatal visits, dental services, and parenting education." The program currently serves 16 infants and toddlers and four pregnant women.

Both Head Start and Early Head Start provide parents with referrals to area services.

For more information about Head Start, go to www.schra.us.