October is National Head Start Awareness Month!

October is National Head Start Awareness Month! Head Start is Families First of Minnesota’s largest program out of the many programs we provide.

Head Start is a no cost preschool program for children three to five years old, focusing on parent and child development, for those who qualify. Head Start is committed to providing quality comprehensive services for the child and his/her total family. The activities are geared towards advancing the development of the child as well as involving the parents in the program; which is designed to foster the parent’s role as the principle influence on their child’s development. They also assist families in developing and achieving the goal of self-reliance.

Early Head Start is a no cost full year learning program that provides services to low-income pregnant mothers and families who have infants and toddlers. Early Head Start services children ages birth to three years old. Following the general Head Start model, these programs support parents in their role as the primary caregiver and teacher of their children. Programs assist in meeting personal goals and reaching self-sufficiency across a variety of things, including housing, education, and financial security.

Head Start originated as an eight-week summer program in 1965, put on by the Office of Economic Opportunity. It was designed to help break the cycle of poverty and provide preschool children and their families with a program to help meet their various needs. This program was received very well by educators, community leaders, and parents across the nation. Following this, Early Head Start was established in 1994, moving towards helping those birth to three aged children and their families as well. Now over 50 years later, Head Start serves young children and their families across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories.