West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc.

WCMCA Head Start Program

Have you filled out an application for your child yet?

We take applications year round!

If you live in Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens or Traverse County,

Begin the application process right now!

Head Start Application and Privacy Rights

Enrollment Population:
WCMCA Head Start serves families with children who are between 3 and 5 years old. Families who meet income guidelines set by the federal government. Ten percent of Head Start’s enrollment is reserved for special needs children who may be over the income guidelines. The current funded enrollment is at 267 children in the 5 county area.

Head Start Class Offerings:
WCMCA Head Start offers 16 classes in the 5 county area to meet the needs of families and children. Below are the current listings of class sites with the Head Start Family Education Specialists and their contact info:

Alexandria Head Start located in the Early Education Center at Woodland Elementary School: Offers 3 classes that meet 4 days per week and 2 classes that meet 3 days per week. Jim Haugen and Jodi Schmidt, Phone: 320-762-8162. Jodi Becker, Naomi Fleming, Nicole Jensen and Shelia Vacek, Phone: 320-762-8046.
Ashby Head Start located in the Ashby School: Meets 3 days per week. Taanna Horn, Phone: 320-760-2274.
Brandon Head Start located in the Brandon School: Meets 3 days per week. Heather Dewey, Phone: 320-834-4084, ext 311.
Browns Valley Head Start located in the Browns Valley School: 4 days per week. Loretta Kruger, Phone: 320-695-2208.
Elbow Lake Head Start located in the WCA North School: Meets 3 days per week. Stacie Rylander, Phone: 320-760-2278.
Kensington Head Start located in the WCA South School: Meets 3 days per week. Haley Grosz, Phone: 320-760-2271.
Minnewaska Head Start located in the Starbuck Elementary School: Two classes that meet 3 days per week. Deb Holmes, Phone: 320-239-1403 and Imogen Kirckof, Phone: 320-239-2257.
Morris Head Start located in the Morris Area Child Care Center: One class that meets 4 days per week, Jody Loher, Phone: 320-589-7949 and one class that meets 3 days per week, Heidi Basta, Phone 320-589-7948.
Osakis Head Start located in Osakis Public School: Meets 3 days per week. Katie Ferris, Phone: 320-760-2288.

WCMCA Head Start Parent Handbook

WCMCA Head Start Community Resource Book

Head Start Mission Statement:
Head Start provides a supportive environment that encourages children, families, staff and communities to thrive by identifying strengths and opportunities, and developing strong partnerships to meet needs.

Standard of Conduct:
All Staff, Consultants, and Volunteers will abide by these standards:

Respect and promote the unique identity of each child and family and refrain from stereotyping on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, or disability.
Follow program confidentiality policies concerning information about children, families, and other staff members.
No child will be left alone or unsupervised while under their care.
They will use positive methods of child guidance and will not engage in corporal punishment, emotional or physical abuse, or humiliation. In addition, they will not employ methods of discipline that involve isolation, the use of food as punishment or reward, or the denial of basic needs.

Performance Standard 1304.52(h)(1)

Purpose of Program:
Head Start is a Federal program for preschool children from low-income families. Head Start is strongly rooted in the “whole package” of Healthy Families, and Healthy Communities.

The Head Start program is operated by local non-profit organizations in almost every county in the country. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They also receive medical, dental and mental wellness screenings, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting.

Our goal is to provide each child with an opportunity to grow and develop in a safe and nurturing environment. The Head Start staff recognizes parents as the first and most important teachers of their children. Head Start provides children with activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities.

Through personal counsel and the sharing of information and resources, Head Start helps family members with academic, child rearing, job and housing issues to name a few. Parents and grandparents volunteer in classroom or on field trips and on Policy Council (or any of the other Head Start Committees), which guides each local program. The program collects and uses child outcome data to assess and continually improve their educational methods for each individual child.

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW CHILD OUTCOMES IN LITERACY AND LANGUAGE:

Child Outcomes 2010-2011

Other Head Start Facts and Stats:
The Head Start programs in Minnesota Head Start Association offers the following information on the Head Start program:

Most children enrolled in the program come from families with household incomes below the federal poverty guidelines.
Without Head Start, low-income children would miss the opportunity to learn and growin preschool and would be at much greater risk for academic and social difficulties later in life.
Classroom quality in Head Start is higher and more consistent, on the whole than in commercial or center-based child care preschools.
For every dollar invested in quality child development program, society saves at least $7 later on programs such as unemployment, criminal justice and child welfare.