Early Head Start program sees growth

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

Community Action of Southeast Iowa?s Head Start program is currently seeing healthy numbers in attendance.

During the latest Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Marc Lindeen reported that the Head Start program is seeing steady numbers, but says that one program in particular is doing exceptionally well.

?About $250,000 had to be transferred from the Head Start fund to the Early Head Start fund because there are more children registered in Early Head Start than Head Start,? Lindeen said.

Head Start, a preschool program under the awning of Community Action of Southeast Iowa, is currently recruiting children who are turning three of four years old before Sept. 15, 2015. The Early Head Start program, which mirrors the Head Start program, focuses primarily on infants and toddlers.

?We believe the shift in numbers is due to more and more school?s having their own preschool programs, so the needs of families are focused on children that are still too young to be in preschool,? said Lindeen.

Head Start is a certified school readiness program that not only educates kids academically, but also facilitates holistic wellness. Head Start provides services free of charge to disabled and homeless children, as well as children that come from low-income families.

Currently, Head Start has classrooms operating in Mt. Pleasant, Keokuk, Ft. Madison and Burlington. Depending on the needs of the child, the program can provide half-day or full-day classes on a Monday through Friday basis.

In addition to speaking about attendance numbers, Head Start is also considering the implementation of a social media policy for their employees.

Besides discussion of the Head Start programs, the supervisors also approved a fund transfer within the county. A sum of just over $1,000,000 was moved from the rural basic to the secondary road fund.

In other news, the board also approved:

? The Iowa State Association of Counties? HIPPA program policy

? Several minor changes to the Henry County?s HIPAA policies and procedures as presented by Henry County coordinator of disability services, Sarah Berndt

The next Henry County Board of Supervisors meeting will be on Tuesday, June 30, at 9 a.m., at the Henry County Courthouse.