WAGES gearing up its Head Start program
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 7, 2005 2:02 AM
As the summer winds down and families begin preparing for school to resume, WAGES' staff is also gearing up for its Head Start program at several locations across the county.
Head Start is a quality comprehensive child and family development program serving more than 450 pre-school aged children, ages 3 and 4, as well as 138 pregnant women, infants and toddlers, and their families in Wayne County. The program's ultimate goal is to ensure that children enter kindergarten prepared to succeed and to give parents the tools they need to guarantee their child's success.
Head Start offers center-based as well as home-based services. All centers are four and five-star rated in accordance with Division of Child Development state regulations. Three centers hold national accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
WAGES also offers extended day services for families requiring additional program support to meet their needs due to work or school obligations. In addition to its focus on early education, WAGES Head Start provides an array of health, dental, nutritional, and family services.
Since parental involvement is a strong component of the Head Start philosophy, the program works in partnership with the entire family and engages in a community approach to serving children and families. The program prides itself on being a community leader in the local human service arena in order to better advocate for children and families, and encourage those families to be advocates for their children and themselves.
In addition to above-mentioned services, WAGES Head Start offers the following programs:
*Parent support groups for all parents, fathers, parents of children with special needs, and Latino/Hispanic families
*Infant and toddler group socialization
*Parent meetings
*Parent trainings
The following are the WAGES Head Start centers:
*Carver Head Start, 612 S. Breazeale Avenue, Mount Olive
*Chestnut Street Head Start, 505 East Chestnut Street, Goldsboro
*Herman Street Head Start, 801 N. Herman Street, Goldsboro
*Pikeville Head Start, Smith Street, Pikeville
*Royall Avenue Head Start, 601 E. Royall Avenue, Goldsboro
*Royall West Head Start, 507 E. Royall Avenue, Goldsboro
For more information about enrollment, contact Jacqueline Hendrix at 734-1178, extension 286.