OSWEGO, NY – At Thursday’s meeting, Heather Crofoot, education community services assistant for Oswego County Opportunities, told the members of Oswego Sunrise Rotary about the Head Start program.
The program’s primary goal is to promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children.
It is aimed at children from families that fall below the federally set income guidelines.
Both the preschool children and their parents are helped to develop the necessary skills to succeed in school.
Head Start has centers throughout Oswego County, enrolling children from all nine school districts.
Children and their families are referred to the program from many social agencies.
Head Start is provided at no cost.
Classrooms are equipped with a variety of materials and resources encouraging students to explore, create, play and learn.
The daily schedule includes both large and small group activities, time outdoors, exploring classroom centers meals and brushing teeth.
Head Start workers help families improve their home environment.
Families are helped to improve their living conditions according to their needs including budget, interpersonal relations, parenting and hygiene.
Head Start has centers in Cleveland, Fulton, Oswego, Phoenix, Pulaski and Williamstown.
Its main headquarters is in Fulton and the phone number is 598-4711.
Crofoot reports that tracking the results of the program, which has existed since the 1960s, indicates that students improve their performance in school and many go on to finish high school and go to college.
