On Saturday, the Fayette County Early Learning Center held a free Summer Fun Bash at Eyman Park to spread awareness about its programs — as they are still enrolling.
The bash lasted from 1-5 p.m. and featured various activities, face painting, clowns and balloon animals. Special guests included individuals from the Washington Fire Department and the Fayette Regional Humane Society.
The Fayette County Early Learning Center is still enrolling for Head Start, Early Head Start, and Early Head Start Childcare Partnership programs. To enroll or to find out more information, call 740-335-7282. Programs are for pregnant moms and children from birth to 5 years.
Head Start and Early Head Start are two different programs.
According to the Fayette County Community Action Commission website, Fayette County Head Start is a free preschool program for children between the ages of 3 and 5. Head Start offers morning and afternoon sessions while providing breakfast, lunch and a snack.
Children receive developmental, speech, vision and hearing screenings onsite. All eligible children are served, including children with disabilities. Transportation is provided to both site locations: Washington Court House and Jeffersonville.
Head Start began as a summer program in 1965. Its main focus was on the social development of children. In 1970, parents began having rights and responsibilities associated with their children being enrolled in Head Start. In 1990, Head Start served 60,000 children.
Fayette County Early Head Start is a program to help parents use their home environment to provide rich learning opportunities and enhance their child’s development. The program serves expectant mothers and families with children birth to 3-years-old.
Visits take place in the families’ home once a week for 90 minutes each. The home visitor will: provide activities that strengthen parent-child relationships and help develop and enhance skills they already have; identify learning opportunities in the home environment; provide a comprehensive program to children and families which promote sound physical, social and emotional growth; provide information to pregnant mothers on baby’s development, nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding; support the attachment between parent and child; identify early developmental delays; provide activities that are planned using a research based curriculum; link families to community services; provide play groups twice a month for children and parents to socialize, build relationships, and share experiences; provide access to dental office appointments; arrange transportation for doctor visits; and prepare guardian and child for the transition to pre-school.
Early Head Start has a certified car seat specialist through Safe Kids and interpreter services available for Spanish families. Services are provided by a home visitor that holds a degree in Social Work or Education and have completed training on Ohio’s Infant Toddler Guidelines.
A Social/Emotional Consultant is available to assist with family and behavioral concerns.
Early Head Start (EHS) was established in 1995 as a program for families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women that met certain income guidelines. In creating EHS, the Congress acted upon evidence from research and practice which indicates that the time from conception to age 3 is critical for human development and that for infants and toddlers to develop optimally, they must have healthy beginnings and the continuity of responsive and caring relationships.
The information in this article came directly from the Fayette County Community Action Commission website and from the Early Learning Center.
Reach journalist Jennifer Woods at 740-313-0355.
