Helping children and families become self-sufficient through the provision of comprehensive services which empower them. What is Head Start?
Head Start is a pre-kindergarten childcare program offered at no charge to financially eligible families. Philosophy
Educating, energizing, and equalizing children and families for the 21st century. Head Start History
Head Start is a Federal program for preschool children, including those with disabilities, from low-income families. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of age-
appropriate activities that will prepare them for school and success. Created in 1965, Head Start is the most successful, longest-running, national school readiness program in the United States. It provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. More than 21 million pre-school aged children have benefited from Head Start. Head Start recognizes parents as the first and most important teachers of their children. We welcome PARENT INVOLVEMENT and we work with parents as our partners
The Capital Area Community Action Agency’s Head Start Program is celebrating 45 years of successfully providing quality school readiness services to preschool children from low-income families. During the 2008-2009 school term comprehensive services were made available to 430 enrollees and their families. Six centers operated in Leon County, two in Franklin County, and one in Jefferson County. We are very proud of our achievements over the past years, which include adding Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten programs in seven (7) centers in Leon and Jefferson County; transitioning 186 Head Start enrollees who were ready and eager to begin Kindergarten; successfully completing the triennial PRISM Review; having all nine (9) centers NAEYC Gold Seal Accredited and renovating all centers to meet ADA requirements. The Head Start Program is lead by 25 year Head Start veteran Laurie Gan Leiner.
“There are many small Head Start Programs throughout this area. I feel it is important that we work together and support each other so that all of our programs can provide high quality services to the low-income children and their families. By coming together we can build from the strengths of each program in order to provide programs that we and the community can be proud of. My dream specifically for Capital Area Community Action Agency Head Start is to become an exemplary program that provides a great learning environment through employing highly qualified staff, new facilities, improved playground equipment, state of the art technology and the most current resources. I want to be able to provide the best tools to ensure our children ready to learn at or above the expectations for children entering kindergarten. Additionally I want to provide the best services to the families to help them be successful and be able to be strong advocates for their children.”
