Early Childhood Education Family and Community Partnerships Health Services Services to Children with Special Needs Nutrition Services Eligibility Head Start Center Locations Contact Information

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

The Head Start/Early Head Start Program recognizes parents as the child's
primary teachers and supports the highest level of parent involvement and
partnership. Both mothers and fathers play an essential role in ensuring the
well-being of their children.

To enrich the parent’s knowledge of their child’s development and local
community services, ASCA Head Start/Early Head Start offers “Families Turn
to Learn” parenting programs and are provided directly or through community
partnerships. “Families Turn to Learn” presentations include sessions related
to child development, comprehensive health and nutrition, education, mental 
health education, science, community advocacy ,transition programs for school

readiness, adult literacy and resources for job skills training to facilitate family
self-sufficiency. Monthly parent meetings are held at Head Start site locations

with guest speakers from Akron Child Guidance, ASCA Social Service programs,

and Kindergarten Transition staff.

We believe that fathers make a difference in our children's lives and offer male
development programming through the Fatherhood Initiative. The Fatherhood
Initiative is intended to provide culturally relevant activities that interest men
while strengthening the role of fathers or male role models in children’s lives.

"Fathers and Families Fun Tubs"are developmentally appropriate activities for parent child interaction and are donated from the Akron Jaycees at all ASCA Head Start Preschool centers to promote parent involvement

Head Start/Early Head Start also seeks to empower families by developing goals for parents and their children. Staff and parents develop Individualized Family Partnership Agreements that focus on the family's social and economic needs with respect to the uniqueness of each family.  In offering parents opportunities and support for growth, parents can identify their own strengths and determine what resources are needed to become self-sufficient. 

Establishing trusting and collaborative relationships with families allows parents and staff to learn from one another and to support families in pursuing life long goals.