HeadStart

Head Start programs prepare America’s most vulnerable young children to succeed in school and in life beyond school. To achieve this, Head Start programs deliver services to children and families in core areas of early learning, health, and family well-being while engaging parents as partners every step of the way.

The Head Start program at Cooper Early Education Center serves low-income families with children ages 3-5 (must be 3 by August 31) residing in Harvey County. Licensed teachers and highly qualified support staff prepare students for kindergarten while providing support for families as a whole and fostering a lifelong love of learning.

HeadStart Links

Grant Overview

The Head Start program was started in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to break the cycle
of poverty for families. The program was designed to meet the emotional, social, health,
nutritional and psychological needs of preschool aged children from low-income families. Over
730,000 children were served in the United States last year.
The Head Start grant at Cooper Early Education Center serves 130 Head Start students residing
in Harvey County. The program focuses on serving the whole family while promoting the idea
of parents/guardians as the child’s first teacher. The grant funding provides services for all
aspects of the children’s education as well as health and wellness services, nutritional services,
transportation and family support.
The Head Start grant is written for a five-year period, with a continuation application written
annually by Cooper Early Education staff during the Spring semester. Reporting and
assessments required by the grant take place throughout the school year as well as during the
summer months. Self-Assessment, Community Needs Assessment, Annual Reporting and Staff
and Parent Surveys are some of the important documents (link) created to report back to the
Office of Head Start reporting on the program’s performance.
If you are interested in learning more about how the grant works, consider joining Policy Council
and be a part of the process.

Eligibility Guidelines

Poverty Guidelines and Determining Eligibility for Participation in Head Start Programs

The HHS Poverty Guidelines are used to determine income eligibility for participation in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Program staff may refer to these resources when working with families.

The HHS Poverty Guidelines and Section 645 of the Head Start Act are used to determine income eligibility for participation in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Program staff may refer to these resources when working with families.

Children from birth to age five who are from families with incomes below the poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services. Children from homeless families, and families receiving public assistance such as TANF or SSI are also eligible. Foster children are eligible regardless of their foster family’s income. Program staff members may refer to this section of the Head Start Act to further understand eligibility for Head Start and Early Head Start: Sec. 645 of the Head Start Act.

The poverty guidelines are adjusted for families of different sizes and may be used to determine financial eligibility for certain federal programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start services. The guidelines are issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services. A single set of guidelines applies to the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. There are separate sets of poverty guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii. These guidelines may be used when determining a family's eligibility for Head Start and Early Head Start services. Select this link for the HHS Poverty Guidelines.

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/ersea/article/poverty-guidelines-determining-eligibility-participation-head-start-programs

Income Guidelines

Policy Council

Joining the Policy Council

Parents have many reasons for joining the Policy Council. Sometimes, staff may ask if they are interested. Other times, parents might want to join after being on a parent committee.

Common Questions About Joining the Policy Council

Why are you asking me to consider joining the Policy Council? What can I offer?

The Policy Council represents parents' voices and perspectives to guide decisions about the program. Policy Councils welcome parents and family members from all backgrounds and family structures. They may be mothers and fathers of all ages, grandparents, foster or adoptive parents, or other important adults in a child's life.

You are being asked because you are the most important teacher in your child's life. Staff value your ideas about how to best serve all the children in the program.
What do I need to know before I join?

What's most important is that you want to help your program provide a positive learning experience for your child and other children. Once you are elected, you will receive training about how your Policy Council works. Some things that the group may discuss in Policy Council meetings are decisions about program policy, budgets, center activities, and hiring staff.
When and where do the meetings take place?

Policy Councils typically meet monthly at the program. When they meet varies. Some programs hold meetings during the day. Others hold them in the evenings. Meals are usually provided. Child care is offered. Some programs assist with transportation or arrange for members who live far away to attend remotely.

Programs also can provide interpretation services. Be sure to let your program know of anything you need to make it easier to attend meetings.

Reflections

Take a moment to reflect on each question:

What questions or concerns do you have about joining the Policy Council?
Who can you talk with to help answer your questions?
What else can your program do to help you decide whether to join the Policy Council?

Additional Resources

« Go to Head Start Policy Council Series

In-Kind Information

Head Start In-Kind Information

When Head Start was founded in 1965, one of the key factors in the program was
community and family involvement. To ensure this involvement, Head Start programs are required to generate 20% of their operating funds through Non-
Federal Share, or In-Kind dollars. This can be done through monetary donations, professional services donations, facilities and utilities donations, supply donations and volunteer hours.

For Cooper, in-kind dollars are generated through services provided by USD 373 district office staff such as Human Resources and Business Office, utilities used at the center, donations of professional services from local business, including the Harvey County Health Department and Health Ministries Clinic, as well as volunteer time from parents and family members. Every hour spent in the classroom reading to students or helping paint pictures, having conversations in the cafeteria or demonstrating “ducktails and bubbles” in the hallways actually generates dollars towards our in-kind goal for the year! If you would like more information on how you can help Cooper meet our 20% goal for the year, contact the school at 316-284-6510.

In This Section

HeadStart

HeadStart Links

Grant Overview

Eligibility Guidelines

Income Guidelines

Policy Council

Joining the Policy Council

Common Questions About Joining the Policy Council

Reflections

Additional Resources

In-Kind Information

Head Start In-Kind Information

Annual Report

Community Needs Assessment

Self Assessment

National Head Start Association

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