Published: October 28, 2009 09:46 am      

WVCAC program honored during National Head Start Awareness month

October is National Head Start Awareness Month. The Washita Valley Community Action Council is the grantee for the local Head Start program in Grady and Caddo Counties. Head Start provides comprehensive child development services for low income preschool children and families, including children with disabilities.

Washita Valley began as an eight-week summer program in 1965. More than 44 years later in 2009, Washita valley has 12 Head Start sites with 26 classrooms and serves more than 454 children. Sites are located in Chickasha, Rush Springs, Minco, Bridge Creek, Anadarko, Apache, Cyril, Carnegie, Ft. Cobb, Lookeba, and two sites in Hydro. The program has 97 employees, several subs and hundreds of volunteers. Classes operate approximately five hours each weekday during the school year and follow the local public school schedule. Five classrooms provide full day, full year services for parents who work full time, or parents who attend school.

Funded by a grant from the federal government, Washita Valley Head Start provides individualized services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, and mental health; nutrition; and parent involvement. The Head Start program provides activities for children to nurture their social, emotional, intellectual, language, and physical development. In each classroom a teacher, teacher assistant, and volunteers provide children with opportunities to engage in many different types of educational activities to prepare them for public school and for a lifetime of learning.

Head start provides health information that supports wellness and a positive lifestyle. The Head Start team works collaboratively with families and health professionals to ensure that child health and developmental concerns are identified and treated early through health screenings. Families are assisted in accessing a source of continuous care to meet their basic health needs.

For information about the Washita Valley Community Action Council Head Start Program, contact Peggy Sayers, Head Start Director at 405-224-5831.