Vol. 18, No. 4	Sept. 24, 1998

Early Head Start offers positive environment

Child and family specialist Heather Anderson (CHEP '96) and Martha Buell, director of
Northern Delaware Early Head Start, (right) visit the home of Cyndy Durham (background)
a child-care provider, who also serves as treasurer for the Delaware Association of Childcare Professionals.

Designed to give infants and toddlers from low-income families a positive environment in which to thrive, Northern Delaware Early Head Start is up and running, enrolling 95 children to be served in New Castle County.

Headquartered in the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy's Center for Disabilities Studies, Northern Delaware Early Head Start involves seven other partners--the Department of Individual and Family Studies, New Castle County Head Start, Wilmington Head Start, Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center, Delaware Association of Child Care Professionals, Family and Workplace Connection's Southbridge Children's Center and Children and Families First-and is funded by a $4.4 million, five-year federal grant, that began last fall.

The cornerstones of the Early Head Start Program are child development, family development, staff development and community partnership.

"The goal of the program is to empower families to do the best job they can in raising their children. What has been discovered from Head Start preschool programs is that, while providing children with a healthy, stimulating environment during part of the day is beneficial, family involvement and education are essential to success. Early Head Start embraces the same philosophy," Buell said.

Northern Delaware Early Head Start serves not only infants, young children and their families, but pregnant mothers, preparing them for the birth of their babies and for caring for them as they grow. Young, pregnant teenagers, in particular, need support and advice as they prepare for the responsibilities of parenthood, Buell said.

The Northern Delaware Early Head Start program coordinator is Rena Hallan. She works with a staff of four child and family specialists who make home visits. "The needs of the family direct the services they receive," Hallan said, "but all the children receive such services as developmental screening and intervention and nutrition services."

For example, transportation may be an issue, and the child and family specialists can discuss the problem, give advice and direct the family to other sources for help. Some families cannot afford toys and books, so these are provided to them. Educational opportunities, housing and health care are among the services families can receive through referrals.

"An important part of the Northern Delaware Early Head Start program are child-care providers, and the child and family specialists also work with them," Hallan said. "Unlike older children in the Head Start Program, many infants and very young children in the Early Head Start Program are cared for by people in their homes while parents work or attend school for job training. We work with individual child-care providers, as well as child-care centers, such as those at the Edgemoor Community Center.

"The child-care providers we work with must be licensed and be interested in furthering their training and becoming accredited as child development associates," Buell said.

"We also offer workshops that are responsive to the parents' needs. Parents must compose at least 51 percent of a Head Start policy council so that we receive input about what is important to them. Some of the topics include applying for Medicaid, children's problem behavior, negotiating the job training field and inexpensive educational materials," Buell said.

Graduate and undergraduate students in individual and family services are involved in the program. This summer, early childhood development major Charmaine Campagna assembled materials and suggested activities for home-care providers, such as songs, games, stories and looking at pictures. A former preschool teacher, she is aware of the importance of learning through play.

Senior Rosa Alicea updated data for the program and will help care for two young children this fall as part of her practicum. She hopes to work with Hispanic children upon graduation.

Graduate student Kristen Miller is researching and evaluating free resources for families and child-care providers.

Heidi Beck, another graduate student, is working on a training module for infant and toddler care to improve the quality of care for small children.

"By working with parents and child-care providers in several areas, we hope to improve the quality of life for infants and toddlers and assist families in a positive way," Buell said.

-Sue Swyers Moncure
Photo by Robert Cohen