Am I Eligible for Head Start?
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How It Works
Middle Kentucky Head Start is funded through the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. Enrollment opportunities are first made available to children and families whose income falls below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. However, after July 15th we may accept families whose incomes exceed these guidelines if full enrollment has not been met. Each program year, children who will be three years old by August 1st. are eligible to enroll in the Head Start Program. Families who meet the definition of homeless are automatically eligible, provided a slot is available. Children in foster care are automatically eligible, provided a slot is available. |
HHS Poverty Guidelines - 2023
Persons in Family/Household Poverty Guideline 1- $14,580 2 - $19,720 3 - $24,860 4 - $30,000 5 - $35,140 6 - $40,280 7 - $45,420 8 - $50,560 For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,140 for each additional person. |
What is Needed for Enrollment
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What Happens After Enrollment?
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1. Health and Wellness
In order to ensure your child’s health requirements are up to date, Head Start will assist you with obtaining your child’s immunization record, eye exam, physical, and dental exam. Having these exams completed and copies for your Head Start Center will help speed up the enrollment process and ensure your child is entering Head Start ready to learn. Head Start staff will complete the LAP-D Screening on each child, if current screening results are not available. This assists the staff in preparing an Individual Growth Plan for your child. The Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment is completed within 45 days of your child’s enrollment, so attending Head Start every day that you can is vitally important so that accurate documentation can be collected. |
2. Attendance
Attendance is very important to your child’s success in the Head Start Program. Attending every day ensures that a consistent routine is developed in the classroom. Consistency is a must in order to be able to ensure your child is receiving the best possible services. We understand that children do get sick. If your child is running a fever or has symptoms that may be contagious, we recommend that you keep your child home until they are feeling better. |
3. Education Services
Middle Kentucky Head Start utilizes the Creative Curriculum, which is a research based curriculum and is implemented to provide developmentally appropriate activities to the three to five year old children we serve. The Head Start classrooms are set up into learning centers such as: Toys and Games, Library, Dramatic Play and Cooking, Discovery, Art, Music, Sand and Water, Technology and Computers. A vast variety of materials is available in these centers for your child to explore and learn throughout the program day. Daily schedules alternate quiet and active time throughput the day with ample time for outside play. This setting allows children to interact and form positive relationships with their peers while developing social and emotional skills that build upon their own sell-confidence. Our goal is to ensure high quality early childhood services are provided in a safe, healthy, learning environment which will lead to kindergarten readiness. |
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4. Disability Services
Middle Kentucky Head Start works with the local Boards of Education in Breathitt, Lee and Wolfe Counties to provide special education and related services to children. This may include: speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy or developmental delay services. If your child is receiving services through the First Step program and still meets qualifications, those services will continue once enrolled in the Head Start program. |
5. Transportation Services
Transportation services are provided though the Middle Kentucky Head Start Program. Children are transported to and from the centers and to area field trips to enhance the learning experience. Bus routes are established at the beginning of the program year and may change throughout the year in order to more effectively and efficiently provide this service. All Head Start buses are equipped with harness restraint systems and Bus Monitors are on board for each route. |
6. Nutrition Services Middle Kentucky Head Start’s child nutrition services assist families in meeting each child’s nutritional needs by establishing good eating habits that nurture healthy development and promote life-long well-being. Head Start provides parents with trainings and information pertaining to nutrition and local resources such as Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Head Start participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which is a federal agency that provides reimbursement to sponsors for providing meal service to participants enrolled. Head Start provides breakfast, lunch and a snack daily to all children enrolled in the program at no cost. Menus are planned to broaden young children’s experiences for trying new foods such as foods from diverse cultures. Head Start staff provides activities and experiences to expand young children’s knowledge and understanding of the importance of establishing good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle. |
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7. Mental Health Services
Middle Kentucky Head Start strives to assist your child in forming healthy, positive relationships with their peers. Children must be able to recognize their own feelings and respond to these feelings in a positive manner. Head Start uses positive reinforcement and redirection to encourage positive behavior. No form of corporal punishment is ever used in the Head Start classrooms. Families can attend trainings |
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Head Start Centers Contact Information:
