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Working Together for our Children’s future
Head Start
About GCCAC Headstart Program
Headstart is a federally funded program for preschool children from low-income families. Galveston County Community Action Council Head start has been serving children ages 3-4 year-olds for over 30 years in Galveston County. With full day services for working parents, there are centers located in the cities of Galveston (2 Centers) and Texas City (Serving west Texas City & La Marque). Presently, 403 children are served.
Headstart is concerned with all areas of a childs development (social, emotional, cognitive and physical) and seeks to assist children in preparing for kindergaten, with a focus on early literacy!
Each classroom has between 15-20 children with two caring qualified childhood educators. Head Start helps all children to succeed. Ten (10) percent of the funded 403 slots are available for children with disabilities. Children are linked to sources of medical and dental care, also, provided healthy nutritious meals. GCCAC Headstart Program participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), to meet the meal pattern requirements. Children also enjoy learning athat takes place both indoors and outdoors.
Early childhood education can be effective in strengthening children for the learning curve that awaits them in kindergarten and beyond. Studies indicate that children who participate in Head Start show significant improvement on test scores and are more likely to complete high school and attend college.
With that in mind, GCCAC’s Head Start program is designed to promote school readiness in young children from low-income families. This educational initiative is also designed to support the mental, social, and emotional development of pre-school aged children.
GCCAC staff creates a partnership with clients to provide assistance as well as engaging discussions about any issues and future goals. Working together to strengthen the community and setting a framework for continuous growth and positive change.
GCCAC currently services 403 low-income chidren, ages 3-5, along with their families to promote school readiness with an educational initiative designed to support mental, social, and emotional development.
Benefits
- Helps children to become self-confident while improving their listening and speaking skills
- Provides children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally and physically.
- Recognizes parents as their child’s 1st and foremost important teacher.
- Offers children the opportunity to experience success through problem solving.
- Have special programs just for “dads”.
- Provides stimulating settins in which good habits can be formed.
- Helps children to prepare for kindergarten!
Content Areas of Headstart Include:
- Education Services
- Health Services
- Mental-Wellness Services
- Family Services
- Parent Engagement
- Nutrition Services
- Transportation Services
Headstart Can Offer Your Family:
- A sense of belonging
- Increased self-confidence
- Parenting Classes
- General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
- English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
- Support services for family concerns/challenges
- Classroom volunteer opportunities
- Service on various committees within the program
What We Offer
In addition to education services, Head Start programs provide children and their families with comprehensive services in the following areas:
- Screenings and follow-ip for Health, Development and Behavior
- Health & Safety
- Social and Emotional Health
- Nutrition
- Familiy Goal-Setting
- Social Services
- Transition Services
- Services for Children with Disabilities
Curriculum
The GCCAC Head Start program utilizes the DLM Curriculum, an innovative teaching method that merges child-centered learning with teacher support and technology. The DLM program provides child with the skills needed to gain literacy in the following areas:
- Reading
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Fine Arts
- Health and Safety
- Personal and Physical Development
- Technology
Criteria For Qualification
Eligibility for GCCAC’s Head Start program is based on age, income, and residency. Family income is evaluated using federal poverty guidelines. Applicants are notified of an enrollment decision within 72 hours after they have submitted required qualifying documents.
Children must be 3 years of age (Including Children with disabilities) at the time of enrollment and proof of income to be income eligible for the Head Start Program. Families receiving SSI, TANF, Foster Care and Homeless are categorically eligible for Head Start Services.
The following documents need to be submitted along with the application:
- *Proof of Income – The Previous year’s 1040, 1040A or W-2 Income Tax Forms for the year. Preferably previous year’s or current one month’s paycheck stubs (One pay stub monthly, two pay stubs bi-weekly or semi-weekly, and four pay stubs every week) showing the year-to-date income. Any financial benefits from TANF, Social Security, SSI, or child support are considered income. Families receiving cash payments should fill out an Employment Verification form or bring in a signed letter from the employer(s) stating the emplouee’s income. Families receiving no income the previous year, or currently receiving no income, are asked to fill out a Verification Statement of No Income form that needs to be notarized (Head Start reserves the right for third party verification of eligibility).
- *Child/Children Birth Certificate/Document
- *Immunization Record
- Most recent physical and dental exams
- Diagnosed evaluation of any disability the child/children may have
- Medicaid/Insurance Card
NOTE: Applications will not be acepted without the following documents: Proof of Income, Birth Certificate/Document and Immunization Record.
Once your application has been processed, a Family and Engagement/ERSEA services staff person from Head Start will contact you with the status of the application. Please be aware that completing the application does not automatically qualify your child/children for the Head Start Program. You will be notified when there is an opening available for your child/children.