Goals

The overall part of the Head Start Program is to promote school readiness in children of low-income families.  School Readiness takes into account the interrelatedness of cognitive and intellectual development, physical and mental health, nutritional needs and other factors that enable a child to function optimally.

The focus of the Acadia Parish School Board Head Start Program is the development of skills, abilities, knowledge and behavior in Head Start to promote School Readiness in the areas of language development, phonological awareness, book knowledge and appreciation of numbers and operations.

Objectives

The primary objective of Head Start is to build a level of School Readiness in each child and family that promotes success and independence later in life.

Program strategies and activities are chosen:

1. To enhance the child’s mental processes and School Readiness skills with particular attention to conceptual and communications skills;
2. To encourage self-confidence, spontaneity, curiosity, and self-discipline for the development of the child’s social and emotional health;
3. To establish patterns for expectation of success for the child to create a climate of confidence for present and future learning efforts;
4. To promote healthy relationships for each other and others;
5. To nurture the sense of dignity and self-worth within the child and his/ her family;
6. To expand every child’s access to an adequate diet;
7. To educate families about future health care and physical abilities;
8. To assist with current physical and mental problems;
9. To engage families in the development of School Readiness goals for children.