HEAD START

Community Action Agencies, Native American National or Tribes, and Other Community Based Agencies

PURPOSE

Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs which serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. Head Start programs strive to assure that children with disabilities are located and enrolled. A minimum of 10% of the funded enrollment slots must be made available to children with disabilities.  Head Start provides a range of individualized services in the areas of education and early child development, medical, dental, mental health, nutrition, and parent involvement. In addition to the full range of services provided to all children, special services may be available for children with disabilities enrolled in the program including equipment and materials or modifications to existing facilities. These types of support services may be provided through Head Start, outside agencies, or combination of both. Head Start services are provided at no charge to eligible families.

CONTACT

Ms. Kay Floyd, Head Start Collaboration Director Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies 2800 NW 36th, Suite 221 Oklahoma City, OK 73112-7477 (405) 949-1495 FAX: (405) 949-0955
www.okacaa.org/headstart/state.html

See Appendix B for Head Start & Early Head Start Offices.

FINANCIAL CRITERIA: 90% of recipients have low income. 10% can be above the federal poverty level.

ELIGIBILITY: Children ages birth to 5.

• Children with disabilities must have been diagnosed by appropriate professionals.

• 90% of the children in Head Start must be from low-income families.

• 10% of the children in Head Start can be from families above the federal poverty level.

• Children from the lowest income families are given preference.

AT SERVICES PROVIDED/COVERED

• Advocacy/Other

• Assessments & Evaluations

• Case Management

• Information & Referral

• Locating Alternate Funding

• Training For Consumer & Family

AT DEVICES PROVIDED/COVERED

Support services may be provided through Head Start, outside agencies, or a combination of both. Head Start programs use non-Head Start resources whenever possible.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Contact your local Head Start to apply. See Appendix B for Head Start Listings.

APPEALS PROCESS

• Each Head Start Program has its own formal appeals process in place.

• If a parent has a disagreement with the program that is not resolved at the local level, the parent can go to the Head Start Policy Council for review of the issue.

PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

• To ensure appropriate special services and optimal transition into public schools, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed for each child who has a disability by the diagnostic team, parents, and teacher. The IEP reflects the child’s participation in the full range of Head Start services and also describes the special education and related services needed to respond to the child’s disability. Needed AT devices and services should also be addressed in the IEP.

• The reauthorization of the Head Start Act in 1994 made possible the optional services of the “Early Head Start Program.” The Early Head Start Program serves children from birth to age 3 and pregnant women.