Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Head Start in California

Programs funded by Federal Office of DHHS

2000-2001 Head Start Funding $595,593,000
Expansion 01-02 $41,300,000
2000-2001 Total Funded Enrollment 102,075
Expansion 01-02 4711 slots

2000-2001 Program Statistics

Age (Actual Enrollment)
Children 0-1 year old.........2,181
Children 1 year old............2,242
Children 2 years old......... 3,142
Children 3 years old .......33,432
Children 4 years old .......68,253
Children 5 years old......... 3,877 2000-2001 Program Models
Full-day/extended day 22 %
Part-day & variations in attendance 68%
Home-based 6.5%
Combination Option .5%
Locally Designed (LDO) 3%
Classroom Staff to Child Ratios: 1:9
Average Class Size: 18

Racial/Ethnic Composition
(Actual Enrollment)
American Indian or Alaskan 1.1%
Hispanic or Latino 65.8%
Black 13.6%White 12.7%
Asian 6.0%Pacific Islander/Other .0.8% Family Information
Number of Actual Families Served 113,127
Number of Families on TANF 29.71%
In School or Training 13.26%
Head of Household who are:
Employed Full Time 51.8%
Employed Part Time 16.44%
Unemployed 31.76%
CALIFORNIA has 1,945 Head Start Centers, housing 5,081 classes. California Head Start agencies employ 18,565 persons, 28% of the employees are or were Head Start parents.

97,493 or 95.5% of children enrolled in head start received all medical screenings -- of those screened, Twenty-nine percent (29%) were identified as needing follow-up treatment of which 84% received treatment. Top three Issues: Overweight 32%, Anemia 22%, Asthma 13%.

89,353 or 88% children enrolled in head start received dental examinations -- thirty-eight percent (38%) were identified as needing treatment and 81% of those who received treatment. 80% of children who have completed professional Exam received preventive care

APPROXIMATELY twelve percent (12%) or 12,225 of head start enrollments consisted of children with challenging abilities (speech and language impairments, health impairments, visual handicaps, hearing impairments, orthopedic handicaps, learning disabilities and mental retardation). Top four issues: Speech & Language 71%, Health Impairment 4%, multiple Disabilities 3%, vision 2%. five Percent (5%) of all children enrolled received mental health treatment.

Ninety-two percent (92%) of the children enrolled more than 45 days completed or were up-to-date on their immunizations.

Approximately ninety six percent (96%) of enrolled families received social services through their involvement with head start.

Over-seventy (70%) head start families reported annual family income of less than $14,999.

Project Head Start/Early Head Start

Head Start/Early Head Start is a federally funded child development program for very low-income young children and their families. Since its inception in 1965, more than 20 million children and families nationally have benefited from Head Start=s comprehensive services. Statewide, this number is estimated to be in excess of 1,000,000 children and families. The primary target population for Project Head Start/Early Head Start is children between the ages of 0-5 and pregnant women from families living below the federal poverty line. Head Start/Early Head Start programs are funded by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services directly to local community agencies.

The Head Start/Early Head Start program is based on the premise that all children share certain needs, and that children from low-income families, in particular, can benefit from a comprehensive developmental program to meet those needs. Head Start/Early Head Start is a family-oriented, comprehensive, and community-based program to address developmental goals for children, support for parents in their work and child-rearing roles, and linkage with other service delivery systems.



The Head Start/Early Head Start philosophy rests on four basic principles:

A child can benefit most from a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program to foster normal development and remedy problems.

Parents are the primary educators of their children and must be directly involved in the program.

The well-being of children is inextricably linked to the well-being of the entire family.

Partnerships with other agencies and organizations in the community are essential to meeting family needs.


The comprehensive Head Start/Early Head Start program includes the following four services:



Education/Special Education Services - Early childhood education services are delivered through several program options including half-day preschool, extended day, full day and year round. Each class is staffed by a teacher, teacher aide and parent volunteers. Head Start Performance Standards require that the early childhood classroom program be developmentally and culturally appropriate for children and families enrolled. In addition, parent education activities are provided to help parents support their children=s development and education. In the Home Based model, education services are delivered through weekly, parent-focused, home visits. Additionally, a minimum of 10% of children enrolled must be children with challenging abilities.



Health Services - The Head Start/Early Head Start health component includes medical, dental, nutrition, and mental health. Services include immunizations, medical, and dental screening with required follow-up treatment. Children receive at least one-third of their daily nutritional requirements each day they attend Head Start. Parents receive health information and materials. The mental health component is often supported by psychologists and/or full time Social Workers. Collectively they provide crisis intervention and follow-up, parenting classes, child observations with feedback to teachers and parents, short-term counseling and other preventive mental health services.



Social Services - Head Start/Early Head Start social service staff assist parents to meet their needs through education, advocacy, and referral. Staff-help parents assess family needs, develop strategies, access resources, and solve problems. Staff also serves as a link to other community agencies, helping them better understand and meet the needs of Head Start/Early Head Start families.



Parent Involvement/Community Partnerships - Parent involvement is the cornerstone of Head Start/Early Head Start. Parents are involved in the Head Start/Early Head Start program in a variety of ways, including volunteering in the classroom, participate in activities and workshops they have helped plan, participating as decision-makers on the Parent Center Committee or Parent Policy Council, and as staff. In 1991, 36% of the staff nationwide were parents of current or former Head Start children. Over 606,000 parents volunteered in their local Head Start/Early Head Start program. California’s staffing includes approximately 28% current and former parents employed. Head Start/Early Head Start establishes individualized partnerships with parents that facilitates their: 1) being the primary teachers of their children; 2) becoming self sufficient; 3) improvement of parenting skills; 4) realizing their potential.



Head Start/Early Head Start agencies in California also provide a broad range of additional services to low-income families through other funding sources and partnerships with other agencies. These services include State Preschool/Head Start wrap-around programs, Child Care, Literacy, Employment & Training, Emergency Food, Housing Referral, Public School Transition Services, Before/After School Care, Parent Intern/Mentor Program, Male Involvement, America Reads, Child Care Collaboration, Grandparent

Links

California Head Start Association