BCFS awarded Head Start operation in Seguin (Seguin) -- The federally funded Head Start Program will be reintroduced this fall to Seguin and Guadalupe County. The program, which originally has operated under the controls of the Community Council of South Central Texas, will now be under the direction of the BCFS Education Services office in San Antonio. BCFS Education Services is part of the global BCFS system of health and human service non-profit organizations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded BCFS the competitive grant to lead the program in both Guadalupe and Comal counties this coming school year. The program was originially operated by the Community Council of South Central Texas. BCFS Spokesperson Ivonne Paris says the program expands BCFS Education Services current Head Start work in Texas and aims to propel children ages 3 to 5 from disadvantaged backgrounds toward academic success and prosperity through the provision of educational, health, nutritional and social services. We have operated Head Start classrooms in lots of different cities across Texas – in Atascosa, Karnes, Wilson and Kendall Counties and in those classrooms, weve served approximately 340 children each year, said Paris. Paris says BCFS has already developed partnerships with the Seguin Independent School District and New Braunfels Independent School District to operate the Head Start classrooms. We will be in the new location, at the Ball Early Childhood Center, but beyond the new location, BCFS Education Services does have a history of operating top quality Head Start classrooms. So they can expect great quality in education, social, mental and health services provided to the children, but also those wrap around social services that we provide to the families of the children who are in our classrooms. So were excited to be joining the community. Our previous provider has been very helpful in this transition and in helping BCFS Education Services get ready to introduce ourselves to the community, said Paris. She says the organization is also currently working to form partnerships with other school districts in both Guadalupe and Comal Counties. Paris says Head Start provides education, health and social services to pre-school children to help them build strong foundations for success rooted in academic achievement and healthy living. She says the program promotes school readiness by enhancing the childs social and cognitive development, while advocating for the childs family by connecting them to helpful community resources. The services that will be included with Head Start, obviously pre-school, individualized teaching led by degreed teachers. It will include bi-lingual services for those English as a the second language learners. Social services, that its a wrap around social service as I mentioned for the family members of the kids who are in the classroom. So really weve had advocates that work within BCFS education services who are going to connect the parents of those children to valuable community resources. It also includes disability services for those children who do have disabilities plus dental exams, mental wellness, health services -- so really were serving the children inside the classrooms, but were also looking towards the long term health stability and wellness of the whole family, said Paris. Paris says a child is eligible to enroll in Head Start if his or her family falls in one of the following categories. In order to apply, the childs family must fall into one of the following categories, the income of that family must fall below the federal poverty guidelines or the family would be receiving TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or a family member thats living with and supported by that family would be receiving SSI, Supplemental Security Income or if the family is homeless or if the child is in foster care. Those are the main five categories with which children and families who fall in those categories are encouraged to apply. To be eligible, the child must live in either Guadalupe or Comal County and be three or four-years-old on or before September 1st, said Paris. Families interested in applying in Guadalupe or Comal counties may call (830) 331-8908 for details. Applications are available online at DiscoverBCFS.net/HeadStart
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:16:57 +0000