Knox County Head Start, Inc "A National Head Start Center of Excellence" to Host Senator Roundtable

July 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Mt. Vernon, Ohio, July 26, 2011 - Head Start, the government funded preschool program, has had a rough time lately. This past March the Senate rejected HR 1, legislation that would have cut the program by nearly $1.1 billion. For now the program is in place and operations continue at 1,600 locations across the nation. This Friday, one of ten "National Head Start Centers of Excellence" will host a roundtable meeting with Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown's office staff. The meeting will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.:

New Hope Early Education Center
Knox County Head Start, Inc.
11700 Upper Gilchrist Road
Mount Vernon, OH 43050-9295

The event will include a discussion on the effectiveness of Head Start program outcomes, a facility tour, and dialogue on how the Senator’s office might be helpful to the Ohio Head Start nonprofit community. Neighboring Head Start district leaders and parents will be in attendance.

Cassidy Davidson's life was turned upside down two years ago when her husband was incarcerated for a serious crime. Davidson, a resident of Mt. Vernon, turned to KCHS to help her transition through the tumultuous ride that followed. As a single mother, she says "I credit the program with helping my kids and me cope. With the assistance of program staff, we healed together. My daughter and son have learned so much through the classroom that their maturity level is routinely thought to be at least two years higher than their age. Through the Conscious Discipline® program and the support staff, I learned coping skills that continually help me to be a better mother and example to my children—I can now stop and breathe instead of taking this bad hand out on my kids."

Amanda Shrimplin, of Mt. Vernon is a single working mother and full time student who touts the benefits of the program. Ms. Schrimplin trained under KCHS's Conscious Discipline® as a social work intern. She has been affiliated with KCHS for two years after enrolling her five year old son in the full day program. Once a skeptical parent who turned to the program just for convenience, Shrimplin advises "I am a believer in Head Start. I saw a big difference in my son's tendency to act withdrawn within the first week of school. Over the past two years, he has learned to write, cope with stress, and gained wonderful social skills that have made him a pleasure to all who acquaint him". Shrimplin added that she would not be as far as she is today with her education and employment if not for the program.

According to Barb Haxton, Ohio Head Start Association Inc. president, "We believe better educated kids are more likely to become productive members of society. Head Start is an educational program that is helping to prepare kids for learning in Kindergarten. This investment more than pays for itself for this otherwise at-risk population."

OHSAI, an umbrella organization for Ohio Head Start agencies, continues to focus outreach and educational efforts to preserve FY 2012 funding levels for the future of 200,000 kids – including 40,000 in Ohio. For every $1 invested in Head Start, our nation receives $7 back in increased earnings, employment, family stability, and decreased welfare dependency, crime costs, grade repetition, and special education. Further, access to affordable care ensures that more at-risk parents and families can stay in the workplace.


ABOUT Knox County Head Start, Inc.
A National Head Start Center of Excellence

Knox County Head Start, Inc. (KCHS) is a non-profit organization serving over 400 children and families annually, with Head Start, Early Head Start, preschool, and child care services for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school aged children, parenting trainings and family services in eight centers throughout Knox County. KCHS has earned star ratings under the State of Ohio's stringently scored Step Up to Quality system.

Knox County Head Start was selected as one of the ten National Centers of Excellence for its comprehensive use of Conscious Discipline® throughout its organization. As a result, Head Start programs throughout Ohio have easier access to learn more about the Knox County Head Start experience with Conscious Discipline®; to further utilize its implementation within their own organizations; and to begin the process of its implementation in their program. The Centers of Excellence designation came with a $200,000 grant award to fund, in part, external trainings and consultations for the Knox County community, and the Head Start community in Ohio.  


ABOUT Conscious Discipline®

Conscious Discipline® is a comprehensive social-emotional learning and classroom management program based on current brain research.  It is the only program that integrates classroom management with social-emotional learning, utilizes everyday events as the curriculum and addresses the adult’s emotional intelligence as well as the child’s.  Conscious Discipline® empowers adults to consciously respond to daily conflict, transforming it into an opportunity to teach critical life skills to children.
More info on Conscious Discipline
 

ABOUT OHSAI

OHSAI is a non-profit, 501(c)4 organization that serves as The Voice of Ohio Head Start". The agency depends upon contributions and donated funds to support state and federal advocacy efforts on behalf of at-risk children and their families. OHSAI provides training to Ohio Head Start providers. The organization works with members of state legislature and the Congressional delegation to advocate the benefits of the Head Start programs.

ABOUT Head Start

Started by President Johnson in 1965, and saved by President Reagan, Head Start embodies a non-partisan national commitment to ensure opportunity for every American. It has become the most successful, longest-running, national school readiness program in the United States. Head Start provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to children and families of low income. More than 22 million preschool aged children have benefited from Head Start.

Early Childhood Education is the one area of President Obama’s Race to the Top reform plans. Research by developmental psychologists shows that the early childhood years are a critical time for learning. Economists have conducted persuasive studies showing that early childhood intervention programs can have lasting and profound effects on at-risk kids. Families benefit from Head Start's early childhood learning curricula and services that include a comprehensive focus on lifelong success.

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Media contact:

Tina Marker, PR Advisor
Ohio Head Start Association
937.545.9654
tina@windward-design.com
www.windward-design.com
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