Head Start & Early Head Start

Every child in our community deserves the chance to succeed. Helping each child build a solid foundation, right from the start, can make a world of difference.

Family Services has been the local provider of the national Head Start program since 1965. In 2015 Family Services was awarded the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership grant.

Our Head Start programs provide quality early childhood development services to 499  3 to 5 years old and 120 Early Head Start birth to 3 children in collaboration with community child care centers, WSFCS, and NC Pre-K.

Here are the key elements of both programs:

• The focus is on school readiness, with an emphasis (especially for the older child) on social skills, language, literacy, math, science, self-help, and creative arts.
• Educational assessments are conducted throughout the program year.
• Teachers and staff are highly credentialed and qualified in childhood education.
• Centers are either 4- or 5-star licensed, and the only NAEYC accredited center in the county.
• Parent involvement (including volunteering and advising) is encouraged.
• Good nutrition and health are important parts of both programs.

 

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Policy Council

Head Start and Early Head Start Representatives come together monthly to discuss and guide the direction of the program.

Head Start and Early Head Start families are enrolled in locations across Forsyth County, NC. Many attend a Head Start and/or Early Head Start program within a private childcare location or at a Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools location. These locations are referred to as sites. Policy Council Representatives have been elected by the parents at their Head Start/ Early Head Start site.

The Policy Council is made up of at least 51% of currently enrolled Head Start/Early Head Start parents/primary caregivers.  The rest of the Policy Council being Community Representatives and former Head Start and Early Head Start parents.

 

2019-2020 Policy Council Representatives

Officers
Justin Freeman, President and Sarah Y. Austin Representative

Members
Brian Cager, Former Parent Representative
Ashanique Brannon, Carver Child Development Representative
Doritha Hall, Mineral Springs Elementary School Representative
Monique Vance, Bethlehem Community Center Representative
Junancily Perez, Sarah Y. Austin Representative
Beverly Davis, North Hills Elementary Representative
Courtney Gaines, Former Parent
Elizabeth Miller, Maxx Kinder Kollege Representative
Bryanna Brown, Quality Education Institute Representative
Trina Stephens, Community Representative, MDC
Malissa Miller, Community Representative, Department of Social Services
Shamika Williamson, Winston-Salem State University Child Development Representative
Vanetra Hidalgo Rabago, Winston-Salem State University Child Development Alternate Representative

Policy Council Meeting Information for 2019-2020

Policy Council meetings for current members run from October through September. No meeting is held in July. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Dinner and childcare care are provided. Representatives can participate remotely as needed.

Publications

Family Handbook  English | Spanish

Meeting Minutes

April 2020  English | Spanish
January 2020
December 03, 2019
December 17, 2019
November 2019
September 2019