HEAD START - AGENCY SPOTLIGHT

 

 

Head Start is a federally funded program that has been serving children and their families for well over forty years.  It is a child development program for children from birth to age 5, which provides services to promote academic, social and emotional development, as well as providing social, health and nutrition services for income-eligible families.

Callaway Head Start is located at 1600 Westminster. We are open to all of Callaway county.  Our center serves forty families in the full day and part day programs (20 each).  The Head Start program is for children ages 3-5.  The center is open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.  Extended child care is offered to children of working families for a daily co-pay of $11.53 in the full day classroom.  Both the full and part day classrooms are federally funded for four hours (full day 8-12 M-F, part day 11-300 T-Th).  Our children receive a healthy breakfast, lunch, and snack.  We also provide age appropriate experiences for the children to reach potential.  Our goal is for every child to be kindergarten ready and to be on level or above their peers. 

We recently started an Early Head Start program at the center.  This is a full day/full year program for infants and toddlers ages 6 weeks to 2 years.  Hours of operation are 7 to 5 Monday though Friday.  There will be 8 children at the center and 8 involved with the home based program.  The same services provided to our pre-schoolers are offered to the families of the infants and toddlers.

Parent involvement is a key part of our program.  We want help our families become self-sufficient in providing for their families.  Monthly parent meetings and trainings are held at the center.  A program called Fathers First encourages men to become involved with the children. Connecting for Children is a program offered to singles and couples supporting healthy family relationships. We encourage our families to become active participants in the lives of their children.

Callaway Head Start has a staff of eleven.  We are Child Family Development Advocates working with all aspects of the family.  Terry Campbell is the Team Leader and also a CFDA.  There are six additional CFDAs, two classroom aides, a cook, and custodian. Nearly all staff resides in the county.   Our passion is this program in believing that we are truly providing a Head Start to the children and families of Callaway County.

For more information call (573) 642-3201. 

We welcome you to visit us and see for yourselves what Head Start is about.

 

 

Last Updated:  08/05/2011