Red River County

Head Start

Annual Report

2008 – 2009

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH SERVICES

One hundred fifty-seven (157) children received services through the Red River County Head Start during the 2008-2009 school year.

One hundred fifty-four (154) children up-to-date on a schedule of age appropriate preventative and primary healthcare, including all immunizations and physical exams. There were twelve (12) children who received Asthma treatments, seventeen (17) overweight and one (1) underweight children were monitored, and one (1) child with vision problems. Helpful information sent home to the parents/guardians. Nineteen (19) children completed follow up dental treatment.

Of the total enrollment, there were twenty-six (26) disability children served: nineteen (19) Speech, two (2) Autism, one (1) Vision, one (1) Traumatic brain injury, one (1) Non-categorical, and two (2) with multiple disabilities.

Sixty thousand two hundred seventy-five (60,275) meals were served to the children. Parents, staff, and children informed of nutritious eating habits through workshops, handouts, and classroom lessons.

PROGRAM DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

Red River County Head Start has been serving the community for forty-four (44) years. There was a center added in Clarksville sixteen (16) year ago with two (2) classrooms. Later there were two (2) additional classrooms added to provide more services to low-income families in the county.

Eighty-three (83) children were income eligible, fifty-two (52) children received SSI/TANF/ public assistance, two (2) foster children, three (3) homeless children, and seventeen (17) children were over the income.

The Program has a funded enrollment of one hundred thirty-six (136) children. The 2008 budget approved by the Administration for Children and Families to provide a Head Start program in Red River County, $868,517.  Detroit and Clarksville ISDs also met the 20% in-kind requirement of $217,129.

The Policy Council serves the Red River County Head Start with seven (7) parent members, four (4) community representatives in Red River County, and one (1) board liaison. This provides a way for parents and the community to participate in important decision making for the program.

CURRICULUM

Both centers use the Galileo Curriculum to create lesson plans in alignment with the Pre-Kindergarten Guidelines and the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework. Galileo On-Line Assessment tracks the progress of Language and Math skills for all children. Detroit supplements with Scholastic Curriculum and Clarksville supplements with Saxon Curriculum to support the Galileo lessons.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Fourteen thousand nine hundred twenty eight (14,928) volunteer hours dedicated to the Red River County Head Start Program by parents and community volunteers. Their dedication and support helps strengthen our program and the community.

One hundred ninety nine (199) people volunteered their time in various aspects of the program; including assisting in the classroom, help with monitoring and evaluating the program, and program policymaking and operations.

The Red River County Head Start employs seventeen (17) current/former parents.

RACE / ETHNICITY

OF TOTAL ENROLLED CHILDREN

                                    African American:                                             50

                                    Caucasians:                                                      78

                                    Biracial/Multi-Racial:                                         7

                                    American Indian or Alaska Native:                    1

                                    Other:                                                               21

RED RIVER COUNTY HEAD START

MISSION STATEMENT

Red River County will serve all young children and their needs with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources.

We will be advocates for the rights and well-being of all young children by providing comprehensive services that support their health, nutrition, and social well-being, in an environment that respects and supports diversity.

All children will have access to a developmentally appropriate curriculum based on the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and Texas Pre-K Guidelines, as well as, knowledgeable and well-trained program staff and educators.

COLLABORATIONS / PARTNERSHIPS

Clarksville ISD Food Services

Clarksville ISD School Nurse

Clarksville ISD Technology Dept.

Clarksville ISD Transportation Dept.

Detroit ISD Food Services

Detroit ISD School Counselor

Detroit ISD School Nurse

Detroit ISD Technology Dept.

Detroit ISD Transportation Dept.

Dr. Randy Crittenden, Ph. D

Dr. Bobby Ragan, D.D.S.

Dr. Kenny Thompson, D.D.S.

ECI (Early Childhood Intervention)

Family Haven

Karla Campbell, RD/LD

Local Daycare Centers

Paris Junior College

Primary Care Associates of Paris – Kelly Harper, RN, C.P.N.P.

Red River Agri Life Extension – Meko Miller

Red River County Library

Red River County Special Education Co-op

Region 8 Education Service Center

Sharon Eubanks (Parent Counselor, CHANCE)

Texas Dept. of State Health Services (Red River County Office)

Texas Dept. of Human Services (Red River County Office)

WIC (Women, Infants, Children)