First Grant Awarded for Early Head Start
On September 30, 1995, ACYF announced the award of 68 new Early Head Start grants. These projects are to serve over 5,000 children and families in 34 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
PRograms are located in urban and rural communities in all regions of the country. Seven are new grantees, 22 are current Head Start programs, 24 are for former Parent and Child Center (PCC) programs, and former Comprehensive Child Development Programs (CCDP's). In addition to existing Head Start grantees, sponsoring organizations include universities, school systems, community mental health centers, medical centers, city and county governmental agencies, Indian tribes, Community Action Agencies, child care providers, and other non-profit organizations.
EHS is designed to enhance children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; support parents-both mothers and fathers- in fulfilling their parental roles; and help parents move toward economic independence. Programs are expected to offer certain core services, including high quality early education (both in an out of the home) and family support services; home visits; parent education; comprehensive health and mental health services, including services for women prior to, during, and after pregnancy; nutrition; and child care. EHS programs will have the flexibility to respond to the unique strengths and needs of their own communities and of each child and family within that community.
Among the program options are family child care. center based care, and home visiting. Several projects will use combinations of these models. In response to specific needs identified in their communities, some projects will emphasize certain program components, such as services for teen parents, family literacy, life skills development, substance abuse treatment, and injury and accident prevention. All projects will work with community partners to assure early, continuous, and comprehensive services.
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