Lancaster PA Head Start - Community Action Programs (CAP) of Lancaster County, PA

Head Start Program

"Building Bridges" in the News

Building Bridges is a comprehensive program of storytelling, creative drama, and writing designed to help children develop critical literacy skills and transform into storytellers of their own lives. Head Start of Lancaster has worked with the Fulton Theatre over the last three years to offer the program to preschoolers preparing them for entry into kindergarten. The Fulton Theatre provides the professionally trained “teaching artists” who conduct the classes.

Head Start of Lancaster acknowledges and thanks the Fulton Theatre, the Lancaster County Community Foundation and the PNC Foundation for sponsoring the Building Bridges program.

Recently, WGAL aired a story highlighting the program and its outcomes. Click on the picture at right to view the segment.

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Head Start Overview

Widely recognized as one of the most successful anti-poverty programs of the 1960's, Head Start continues to promote school readiness for children ages 3 to 5 from low-income families. Head Start is the largest program administered by the Community Action Program with over 800 children and families served in 11 centers throughout Lancaster County.

Head Start's mission is to promote school readiness for low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development in a learning environment that supports children's growth in language and literacy, mathematics and science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts and physical skills. Based on needs assessments, Head Start helps low-income children and their families obtain health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services appropriate to their needs.

The Head Start program offers a wide range of services to families and children including:

Services to Children - Head Start provides age appropriate activities in a well-structured environment that helps each child become school ready. Head Start centers offer four half day per week classroom experiences in areas of the county where population is more concentrated. Families who live in areas that are more rural have a home based Head Start program with an emphasis placed on strengthening the parents' ability to work with their child in everyday activities that promote school readiness.
Children with disabilities are included in all classroom or home-based activities. Ten percent of the children served by the Head Start program must have disabilities. Head Start works closely with the Lancaster Lebanon IU 13 to implement individualized education plan goals. Social-emotional screenings of children rely on input from teachers and parents. Mental health professionals are available to consult with Head Start staff and parents and the program employs health personnel who provide support to classrooms and families as needed. Head Start also has partnerships with behavioral health providers in order to facilitate the referral process as needed.

Nutrition - Head Start provides nutritious meals to children attending the centers. The center staff also works with parents to assess children's nutritional status and provided valuable nutrition education to help them plan nutritious meals at home that fit within families' budgets.

Health - All children enrolled in Head Start receive dental and health screenings with assistance for follow-up treatment when appropriate. The screenings help insure that children receive their recommended immunizations and teach parents the importance of prevention.

Parent and Family Engagement - The philosophy of Head Start is that parents should be involved with all aspects of the program. From volunteering in classrooms and participating in educational activities in the program, to selecting program staff, Head Start involves the parents in the education of their children in a very meaningful and productive way.
In addition, parents are afforded access to a broad range of community services. These services have great impact on the families as they move toward self-sufficiency. The services include improving educational and employment skills, resolving health issues and assistance in securing better housing.
Transportation - The Head Start program provides transportation to children based on availability and family need.

Volunteer and In-Kind Opportunities - Head Start has many opportunities for volunteering and in-kind giving. The Head Start grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires agencies to provide local matching grants and/or in-kind contributions equal to 20% of the total program cost. In the case of CAP's Head Start program that figure is roughly $1.5 million. Consequently, the program is always in need of classroom volunteers, donations of books and classroom supplies and professional services.

Program Qualifications/Income Guidelines

Head Start serves children in the two years before they are school eligible. Homeless children, foster children and families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) funds for disabilities are eligible regardless of the income guidelines. All others fall under the income guidelines set each year by the federal government, which are based on family size and gross income for the past twelve months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My five-year-old child just missed the cut off for entering kindergarten. I heard that Head Start is for three and four-year-olds. Is my child eligible?
A: Yes, your child is age eligible if she/he was not old enough to enter school. He/she will get one year of Head Start and then move on to the school district.

Q: My four-year-old child and I moved to my parents' house after the child's father left us. Our family income was higher last year because the father's income was supporting us. Do you consider last year's tax return for my child's eligibility even though I no longer receive income from the father?
A: No, we only consider the income of parents that are currently living with the child.

Q: My son has special needs and requires therapy. Will Head Start be able to serve my son?
A: Yes, Head Start will work in partnership with the providers of your child's special therapy and the teacher will learn about your child's needs before he starts.

Q: I am a working parent so my grandmother watches my child. I feel he needs a more structured environment and play time with other children. Could Head Start pick up my child and drop him off at my grandmother's house after class?
A: Yes, if the program offers transportation to that area for other children.

Head Start Centers -

CAROL B. WINTERS CENTER
CAP/Head Start Building
57 Laurel Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
717.295.1441, ext. 328 Year-round staff to do applications and take referrals

CLAY CENTER

250 Clay School Road

Ephrata, PA 17522

717.333.1950

COLUMBIA AREA CENTER
Head Start Building
815 Wright Street
Columbia, PA 17512
717.684.2706, ext. 303 September to May

FRANCINE BUNCH
CAP of Lancaster County Office

601 S. Queen Street

P.O. Box 599

Lancaster, PA 17608
717.299.7301, ext. 3883 September to May

HIGHLAND CENTER
99 Highland Avenue

Ephrata, PA 17522

717.333.1948 September to May

LITITZ CENTER
Lititz United Methodist Church
201 East Market Street
Lititz, PA 17543
717.625.1294 September to May

MOUNT JOY CENTER
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
432 Old Market Street

P.O. Box 537
Mount Joy, PA 17552
717.653.3000, Ext. 3057 September to May

STIEGEL CENTER

3 South Hazel Street

Manheim, PA 17543

717.333.1952

NEW HOLLAND HOME-BASED CENTER
Saint Steven Church
249 East Main Street
New Holland, PA 17557
717.354.5250 September to May

QUARRYVILLE HOME-BASED CENTER
Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church
611 Robert Fulton Highway
Quarryville, PA 17566
717.786.4049 September to May

Contact

dkoon@caplanc.org

For enrollment information, contact the Head Start center nearest you.

Head Start Application