Head Start/Early Head Start Program

Family and Community Services

 

What Can Head Start/Early Head Start Offer Your Family?

Head Start/Early Head Start offers you a sense of belonging, other support services
and a chance to be involved in activities to help your whole family. You can take
part in training workshops on many subjects, such as disciplining children, parenting,
 job training, health, nutrition, and using free resources in your own community.
Some parents learn the English language, others may learn to read. Head Start/
Early Head Start can also help in obtaining your GED, and other educational
opportunities.

 

If you have a family member with a special problem, such as drugs, alcohol, job
loss, or any family crisis, your family can receive help through Head Start/Early Head Start .

 

Head Start/Early Head Start Family & Community Service Workers and Teachers refer families needing help to medical, public aid, or employment agencies in the community, and will follow up to make sure you have received assistance.

 

As a parent, you also have a voice in Head Start/Early Head Start. Parents serve on various committees and can be elected to sit on the Policy Council, one of the governing boards of Head Start/Early Head Start. Parents make policies and important decisions in Head Start/Early Head Start.

 

Social Service and Parent Involvement is offered in all nine counties of TCOC Head Start/Early Head Start. TCOC has 14 Family & Community Service Workers  to serve families:

 

Laura Crawford: Serving Morrison, Northern Spanish speaking families

 

Cindy Pace-Kennedy: Serving Sterling AM/PM, Sterling Exp. AM/PM

 

Betsy Kinder: Serving West Carroll AM, West Carroll Extended Day, EHS Carroll County HB

 

Lendy Smith: Serving Dixon AM/PM, Polo

 

Carisa Valdez: Serving Rock Falls AM/PM, Oregon Extended Day, Sterling Collaboration, EHS Ogle County HB

 

Aby Guerrero: Serving Rochelle AM/PM, Rochelle Ext. Day

 

Lisa Bennett: Serving Rock Falls Expansion AM/PM, Sterling Wallace Extended Day

Mandy Zelle    : Serving EHS Sterling Wallace I CB, EHS Sterling Wallace II CB, EHS Whiteside Co. HB, Head Start Sterling Wallace AM

 

Selenia Castaneda: Mendota AM/PM, Earlville

 

Stephanie Orozco: Serving Streator AM/PM, Streator Expansion AM/PM, Streator Extended Day

 

Andrea Cox: Serving LaSalle AM/PM, LaSalle Extended Day

 

Maria Barrios: Serving Streator and LaSalle Spanish speaking families

 

Joshua Coyle: Serving Lacon Extended Day, Wyoming Extended Day, Granville AM

 

Marsha Miller: Serving Ottawa Expansion AM/PM, Ottawa AM/PM

 

Maria Sanchez: Serving EHS Rochelle HB, EHS LaSalle HB, EHS Earlville/Mendota HB, EHS Bureau/Putnam HB, EHS Marshall County HB

 

Rosanna Sanchez: Serving Spring Valley Extended Day, Seneca Extended Day, HS LaSalle HB

 

Sarah Nambo: Serving EHS Ottawa CB, EHS Streator CB, EHS Ottawa/Marseilles/Streator HB, Head Start Ottawa Full-Day, Full-Year

 

 

Family Activities

 

Parent Meetings:

Families have the opportunity to meet together as a parent group once a month. Parents are in charge at these meetings, and choose the topics of discussion. Parents and children have the opportunity to do a family activity, and have a snack together. Parents then hold a meeting to discuss happenings in the classroom, field trips, planning class activities, and have a choice of a parenting topic such as discipline. The classroom teacher is available for 15 minutes for planning and questions. The Family & Community Service Worker is there for the meeting to assist parents through the meeting. Please check with your classroom for the dates and times of these wonderful meetings.

 

Family Fun Nights:

Family Fun Nights take place sometime in February. This is a wonderful opportunity for staff, parents, and children to come together for a fun filled night of activities and food. Family Fun Nights are planned in conjunction with parents and staff. A theme is chosen (such as circus) and activities are planned around the theme. Community leaders are invited in to participate or read a story. There are great door prizes, games and lots of food. This is a FREE event for Head Start/Early Head Start families!!!!!

 

 

For more information on: Parent Involvement, Family Service or Male Involvement in Head Start/Early Head Start, contact Rachael Delp, TCOC Head Start/Early Head Start Family & Community Services Manager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Head Start Links:

 

Illinois Head Start Association

www.ilheadstart.org

 

National Head Start Association

 www.nhsa.org

Early Head Start Program  /  Program Options  /  Family and Community Services  /  Enrollment & Eligibility   /   Program Staff & Centers  /  Program Documents  / Calendar of Events

405 Emmons Avenue, P.O. Box 610, Rock Falls, IL 61071

PH: 815/625-7830

TOLL FREE: 1-800-323-5434