The objective of Community & Family Services, Inc.’s Head Start Program is to provide all children with a nurturing, engaging, and secure learning environment in order to help children gain the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in their current and future responsibilities in school and life. Each child is treated as an individual in an inclusive community that values, respects and responds to diversity.
Head Start offers a variety of classroom options depending on location. We use DIG (Develop, Inspire, Grow) as our research based curriculum. Our teachers and educational staff work hard on developing skills in large groups, small groups, and as individuals to help the children be ready for kindergarten!
What are the students learning?
Counting
Adding
Subtracting
Drawing
Creating
Writing
Literacy
Language
Listening
Exploring
Caring for their friends
Working in a group
Nutrition
Observing
Much more!
Classroom Locations
Adams County
Berne: Trinity United Methodist Church
Phone: 260-589-3002
To apply, contact Jeana at 260-251-2215
Decatur: North Adams Elementary School
Phone: 260-728-3335
To apply, contact Jeana at 260-251-2215
Blackford County
Hartford City: Southside Elementary School
Phone: 765-348-1454
To apply, contact Kim at 260-251-0913
Huntington County
Huntington: 1255 Engle St.
Phone: 260-356-3890
To apply, contact Nikki at 260-251-2531
Jay County
Dunkirk: West Jay Community Center
Phone: 765-768-2103
To apply, contact Tiffani at 260-726-5067
Portland: 406 E Arch St
Phone: 260-726-6338
To apply, contact Krista at 260-251-8808
Randolph County
Union City: Northside Elementary
Phone: 260-726-6338
To apply, contact Krista at 260-251-8808
Winchester: 325 S Oak St, Suite 104
Phone: 765-584-1250
To apply, contact Betty at 260-251-2085
Wells County
Bluffton: Bluffton Elementary School
Phone: 260-824-0333 ext. 5502
To apply, contact Heather at 260-251-8888
Nutritional Information
Community & Family Services, Inc. Head Start participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a USDA program that provides healthy meals and snacks to children. This program plays a vital role in improving the quality of education and making it more affordable for low-income families.
CACFP centers follow meal requirements established by the USDA. A registered Dietitian assesses our menus and the nutritional needs of each child. They make recommendations to help provide better nutrition for each child.
Check out www.myplate.gov for more information, including budgeting, food planning, menus, recipes and more!
Health Information
Head Start’s commitment to wellness embraces a comprehensive vision of health for children, families and staff. The objective is to ensure that, through collaboration among families, staff and health professionals, all child health and developmental concerns are identified and children are linked to an ongoing source of accessible care to meet their health needs.
We require each child have the following:
Lead test
Hemoglobin test
Be up-to-date on all immunizations
Dental exam
After students begin attending, we do several screenings for early intervention. Screenings include the following:
Vision
Hearing
Development
Speech/language
If needed, we provide referrals for services to appropriate agencies. For more information on children’s health, please visit the following Health Links:
The Policy Council is made up of parents and community representatives from each classroom. Not only does your child receive a high quality preschool educational experience at no cost, but you also have the opportunity to be a part of the decision making process and gain experience and knowledge.
You can make a difference in your child’s education, make improvements to the program, gain leadership experience and connect with other parents. As a Policy Council member, you will help set and review program goals and policies, help establish enrollment criteria, make recommendations for the hiring of staff, approve the budget and monthly expenditures and be involved in fundraising for your classroom.
Other perks include:
Gas reimbursement for travel
Volunteer In-Kind hours at a higher rate
Free babysitting
Resume builder
Please contact your Teacher or Family Support Specialist (FSS) for more information.
Volunteer Information
Head Start is funded through an annual Federal grant. Each year we must match 25% of that grant with funds from the community. We can match this money with donations from people, businesses, or from people volunteering their time in Head Start activities.
Community & Family Services, Inc.’s Head Start Program earns $17.69 for every hour that you spend helping in various ways. You may help the Family Support Specialist (FSS) with an activity, build a shelf or fix a leak, help the teacher with preparing materials, volunteer in the classroom or working with your child on their goals at home. It may not sound like much, but if you volunteer 5 hours a week for the school year, you will help Head Start meet its matching goals by earning $3,095.00! And if you are on the Policy Council, you earn $35.59 per hour for the Head Start Program.
This fiscal year (Nov 2019 – Oct 2020), we must raise $579,000 worth of volunteer hours. That is why parent and community involvement is so important! Without your help, Head Start wouldn’t be possible.
Please contact your child’s teacher or Family Support Specialist to discover the many opportunities available.
