SALEM, ORE. – Governor Tina Kotek issued a statewide proclamation officially designating October as Head Start Awareness Month. The month is celebrated annually across the country as a way to honor the legacy and current work of Head Start in positively impacting the lives of communities, families, and young children. The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) joins in celebrating the transformative impact of Head Start and Early Head Start during Head Start Awareness Month.
“October is a special month for early childhood education advocates, families, and system partners. This is a time when we elevate the strong historical roots of Head Start along with the current impact,” said Alyssa Chatterjee, DELC Director. “Head Start Awareness Month allows us to draw awareness not only to the impactful work of Head Start but also to the high quality services, wrap around supports, and early childhood education helping families thrive.”
The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) administers the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten program. OPK is modeled after the successful federal Early Head Start and Head Start program and serves children from prenatal to five years old. Since OPK’s establishment in 1987, tens of thousands of children and their families have benefited from the program.
Programming is available across all 36 Oregon counties. Director Chatterjee traveled to NeighborImpact’s Head Start site today in Redmond to tour the Walker Center. The visit included the new Early Head Start classroom. The visit comes during fall “Back to school,” an important time when a young child attends preschool or joins a new class and Director Chatterjee was pleased to tour the center and help launch the academic year off to a welcoming start.
Later this week, agency representatives will join the quarterly Head Start Association Director’s Meeting. The Oregon Head Start Association (OHSA) seeks to empower and advocate for Head Start programs through professional development and training, peer support, scholarships, posting employment opportunities, and advocating at the state and national levels.
“Every month, and especially this month, we are thrilled to elevate all the many ways that Head Start is a strong promoter of quality programs for children and families as they prepare for life-long success, said Nancy Perin, OHSA Executive Director. “The impact is clear –children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs are more likely to have positive educational outcomes and improved social, emotional, and behavioral development
Education is only one component of the impactful work of Head Start. In addition to early childhood education, Head Start programs support family well-being by connecting families to medical and dental care while helping parents achieve family goals, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security. Oregon also offers Early Head Start and Head Start supports for children from Migrant and Seasonal working families along with additional Tribal Head Start programs administered by the federal government.
These free, high-quality early care and education services and wrap around supports are available to families including pregnant people and expectant families. Eligible participants include children aged birth through five whose families meet the federal low-income guidelines whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty guidelines or who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program public assistance services. Other eligible participants include children who are in the foster care system or experiencing homelessness. Some families with special circumstances are also eligible to receive support regardless of family income status. To watch a video by the Office of Head Start Director Khari M. Garvin elevating resources of services and Head Start Awareness click here. To find a head start center visit: Head Start Center Locator | ECLKC (hhs.gov)
