Which Child Deserves to Learn?
Head Start's volunteer media campaign, which was launched in late spring, is now appearing nationwide on television, radio, and in business and professional magazines. The campaign's title is "Which Child Deserves To Learn?" This question, provocative in nature, is posed to capture the attention of viewers, listeners, and readers and alert them to the difference each individual can make in the life of a child. The Ad Council and their volunteer advertising agency, Lord Dentsu, has created this public service campaign for Head Start.
The campaign is targeted toward businesses, professional men and women, and individuals in the general public who can give an hour a week or more of their time, talent, or resources to the Head Start program. To make the matching process easier for prospective volunteers, the campaign offers an 800 number which they can call to find the Head Start program nearest to them. The number is 1-800- 27-START (1-800-277-8278).
All Head Start programs are encouraged to participate in the campaign by identifying a volunteer coordinator to plan the agency's need for volunteers, to respond to potential volunteers who call as a result of the campaign, and to ensure successful placement and follow-up with the volunteers. If a grantee has not signed up for the campaign, they may do so by following the instructions outlined in Information Memorandums ACYF-IM-93-26 and ACYF-IM-94-15 on this volunteer campaign.
Each volunteer coordinator who responded to these Information Memorandums has received a Community relations Kit which included the Public Service Announcements (PSA) for TV, a story board, and a fact sheet about the Head Start program. A radio kit, which included two radio spots and one live announcer spot, a fact sheet about the Head Start program, and a business reply card has also been sent to each of these volunteer coordinators. The print media will target both the general public and health service volunteers and is being mailed to trade and business journals, so programs will not receive and print media copy.
Head Start volunteer coordinators should begin thinking about areas where they need additional volunteers, such as in center with classroom activities and with children activities inside and outside of the centers; assisting administrative and component staff; and working with Head Start committees, policy councils, and families. (Click link for form)
As the new year begins , volunteer coordinators should cal their local television and radio stations and encourage them to air the Head Start PSA, "Which Child Deserves to Learn?" Volunteer coordinators should tell the station what their Head Start program is doing and outline areas in their programs where volunteers are needed. They should also emphasize how how important it is when individuals give their time and talents to help make a difference in the lives of Head Start children and their families.
The Head Start Bureau has made a commitment to expand the volunteer base of Head Start by adding a wide range of volunteers to the programs through this multi-media campaign. For this effort to be successful, each grantee's volunteer coordinator must design a volunteer plan for their program, develop and design job descriptions for the volunteers, screen and interview potential volunteers, orient and train the volunteers about agency program and policy, organize supervision for the volunteers, and establish appropriate ways of recognizing the work of the volunteers.
As Head Start moves toward the 21st Century, this multi-media volunteer campaign will become a resource which will help programs to expand and diversify their base of volunteers to meet the changing needs of Head Start children and families. The campaign will also give each program in each community to raise public awareness about Head Start as a successful, early intervention program in each community, as well as challenge a wide range of individuals to volunteer their time and talents to the program.
Head Start grantees are encouraged to join in this campaigns a way to attract new volunteers and expand community resources.
Back to Top | Back to Table of Contents | Next Page