Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Nurturing the Promise

Head Start has been a leader

Since 1965, Head Start has nurtured the promise of a better future for low-income children and their families. Through 1996, Head Start has served more than 15 million children and their families in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. territories.
Head Start has been a leader in providing services to children with disabilities, children of migrant workers, and Native American families.

Head Start's approach to services includes:

a nurturing environment that supports he healthy growth and development of each child in the context of the child's family, culture, and community:
parents as partners in the shared decision-making process and as active participants in policy groups; and
recognition of the importance of strengthening linkages within communities.
HEAD START PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Since 1975, the Head Start Program Performance Standards have defined the services that local programs are required to provide to enrolled children and families. The Program Performance Standards translate the Head Start vision into quality practices implemented at the local level.
The 1993 Head Start Advisory Committee on Quality and Expansion recommended that the Program Performance Standards be revised to respond better to the changing needs of children, families, and communities.

After a process of extensive consultation, Head Start has revised its Program Performance Standards and added new standards for services to pregnant women, infants and toddlers, and for providing family literacy and transition services. These standards are effective January 1, 1998.





HOW ARE THE REVISED HEAD START PROGRAM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS DIFFERENT?
The following are a few highlights:
The Program Performance Standards have been reorganized into three major areas: Early Childhood Development and Health Services, Family and Community Partnerships, and Program Design and Management.
The Child Health and Developmental Services section requires linking each child with an ongoing source of medical care, a "medical home." The Family and Community Partnerships area focuses on building respectful relationships with families and strengthening linkages with other agencies in the community.
The Program Design and Management section begins with Program Governance and contains new standards to improve management systems and accountability, the qualifications of staff and the support they receive, and the safety of the facilities and equipment.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
You can make a difference! By joining the Head Start community or by renewing your commitment to Head Start, you can assist in building a program that consistently provides the highest quality services for children and families.
For more information on the Head Start Program Performance Standards or on training and technical assistance available to support implementation of the Program Performance Standards, contact your local Head Start program or the federal office listed below.







FEDERAL HEAD START CONTACTS

HEAD START NATIONAL OFFICE
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start Bureau
330 C Street, Southwest
Washington, DC 20447
202-205-8572

American Indian Programs
Head Start Bureau
330 C Street, Southwest
Washington, DC 20447
202-205-8437

Migrant Programs
Head Start Bureau
330 C Street, Southwest
Washington, DC 20447
202-205-8455

HEAD START REGIONAL OFFICES

REGION I
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
JFK Federal Building
Room 2000
Boston, Massachusetts 02203
(CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)
617-565-1128

REGION II
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
Federal Building, Room 1243
26 Federal Plaza
New York, New York 10278
(NJ, NY, PR, VI)
212-264-2974

REGION III
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
Gateway Building
150 S. Independence Mall West
Suite 864
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106
(DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV)
215-596-1224

REGION IV
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
61 Forsyth Street
Suite M60
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)
404-562-2833

REGION V
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
223 N. Michigan
4th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60603
(IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)
312-353-8322
REGION VI
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
1301 Young Street
Room 937
Dallas, Texas 75202
(AR, LA, NM, OK, TX)
214-767-2981

REGION VII
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
Federal Office Building
601 East 12th Street
Room 276
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
(IA, KS, MO, NE)
816-426-3981

REGION VIII
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
Federal Office Building
1961 Stout Street, Room 1194
Denver, Colorado 80294
(CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)
303-844-3106

REGION IX
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
50 United Nations Plaza
Room 450
San Francisco, California 94102
(AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa,
Guam, Palau)
415-437-8481

REGION X
Administration for Children and Families
Head Start
2201 Sixth Avenue, Suite 600
Seattle, Washington 98121-1827
(AL, ID, OR, WA)
206-615-2557