Head Start

SWADC Head Start

The National Head Start program had it’s origin in the nations Great Society Programs of the 1960′s, under the guidance of the Democratic Party with Lyndon Johnson as it’s President.  The official date for the program’s inception is 1965.  It was originally designed to provide services and goods to children from poverty stricken families.  Head Start, unlike public schools, based it’s enrollment on the financial status of the family.  Public schools make their selection on the basis of status of the children.

Head Start started as a summer program designed to provide an organized structure for recreation, instructions, and nutrition.  It was initially designed to address children aged 4 and 3 years old.  It created an extended program to address Early Head Start, children aged 1-3 (infant and toddlers) in later years.

The SWADC Head Start Program sponsored by the Southwest Arkansas Development Council, Inc. (the Grantee) was incorporated in the early 60′s with the origin of the National Program.  Mrs. Marian Haynie served as director of the program for more than 35 years.  It provides service to low-income families in the southwest part of the state.  There are 13 centers and 15 sites in seven counties.  The participating counties are Hempstead, Howard, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, and Sevier.  Each Center or site has a specific partnership with a public school.  The Centers/classrooms are located in a public school building, or on a public school campus.  The public schools provide the meals and snacks, and some transportation.

Services provided are the following:

• Education (social, emotion and literacy)
• Health (mental and physical) and Nutrition
• Partnerships
• Parent assistance (literacy and referrals)
• Transportation on a limited basis.
• Head Start also provides funding for dental and medical care.

There are 454 funded children and 67 staff members.  The SWADC 2010 federal grant is $2,398,241.00.  Other funds are received from the state ECERS Grants, and Enhancement Grants.  COLA grants are issued on a frequent basis to enhance and increast staff salaries.  SWADC Head Start received an ARRA Grant of $213,687.00 for COLA and other services.  The Head Start staff will have the higher salaries of the SWADC programs because it has the highest number of professional degrees.  Of the 24 teachers, 11 have the B.A degree.  Three of the seven Center Managers have the B.A degree, and three have the A.A. degree.  Two of the nine administrators have the Masters degree; and seven have a B.A. degree.  All teachers and administrators must have a minimum of a B.A. degree by 2013.

The racial composition of the staff is 70% African-American, 28% White, and 2% Hispanic.  Racial compositions of the children are 49.3% African-American, 26.4% White, 16.3% Hispanic, .2% American Indian and 7.8% Bi-Racial.  The staff gender composition is 98% female and 2% male.  The children gender is close to 50/50 percent.

This program is in Region VI, with the home office in Dallas, Texas.  Region VI consists of the states of Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and New Mexico.  Many Head Start children have reached lofty heights in the fields of education, ministry, medicine, law, military, etc.  The former National Director of the Head Start Association was a Head Start Child.

SWADC’s Head Start  program gives children a head start who would not receive it anywhere else.  The national research indicates Head Start children do well in public schools.  They have good mannerisms, and are above average in academic achievements.