HEAD START

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: Head Start is a comprehensive child development program which serves children from age 3 to 5 and their families. This is a child-focused program and has the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. The program involves the whole family through the four cornerstones of Head Start: child development, family partnerships, community partnerships, and staff development.

PROGRAM HISTORY: Head Start was launched nationally in 1965. In 1968 SENCA began serving pre-school children and their families in six week summer programs in Richardson, Nemaha, Johnson, and Pawnee County. In 1970 SENCA Head Start began serving 18 children in Richardson County and 18 children in Nemaha County through a full-year program. Today we have a total of 156 enrollment slots serving children and their families in the counties of Richardson, Nemaha, Otoe, and Pawnee.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS: In addition to our interagency agreements for Special Education Services and Transition Services with the public schools in our service areas, we have collaborative agreements with many other agencies who serve children and families. In September 2000, SENCA Head Start began the first full-day/full-year program in Falls City. This program is aimed to service families with parents who work or go to school full-time. Head Start placed the Falls City part-day, part-year program in a separate facility at 1715 Stone Street in September of 2001. At the same time, a new Nebraska City full-day/full-year program was opened at 1020 North 10th. Partnerships with state funded pre-schools in Stella, Falls City, and Humboldt allow for Head Start eligible children to be served in those programs.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES: Income eligibility for participation in the Head Start program is based on the Federal Family Income poverty guidelines. Guidelines allow for 10% of our enrollment to be above the poverty income guidelines. At least 10% of our enrollment slots are reserved for children with special needs that meet all other criteria.

SENCA Head Start also works collaboratively with local State-funded preschools to ensure that all Head Start eligible children in the area receive early childhood education services. The State-funded preschools provide educational services to children and the Head Start program provides all other Head Start services to families.  If you are interested in learning more about these collaborative programs please contact the appropriate person as outlined below.

YOUTH MENTORING

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: SENCA Head Start implemented a Head Start Mentoring project to provide opportunities for area youth to become involved in their communities, beginning with the Head Start program.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:  SENCA's Head Start Youth Mentoring Program continues for the 2007-2008 school year with collaborations with HTRS, Falls City and Auburn public schools. The program began in 2004-2005 with a pilot program at HTRS, adding Falls City 2005-2006 and Auburn in 2006-2007. The strong partnerships we have with our local school systems make the program a success. HTRS Mentors work 2-3 times a week with mentees. Auburn Mentors belong to the Future Business Leaders of America club and visit the center about twice a week. Falls City schools made the youth mentoring program a part of their school curriculum. These students meet daily with the Head Start kids children. All mentors are formally trained and participate in activities that enhance gross motor skills, social and emotional skills, and language skills of the Head Start children. The program assists mentors in developing a sense of competence, a sense of usefulness, a sense of power, and a sense of belonging. This opportunity provides youth the become involved in their communities, beginning with our Head Start program.

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:  The students attending HTRS high school have the option of participating in the Youth Mentoring Program, and the middle school mentors are selected by their school counselor. Auburn mentors are members for their FBLA club, and Falls City Public Schools incorporate the Mentoring Program into their curriculum as an elective.