Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Helping Build Children’s Future

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published August 15, 2016 6:00 am
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BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – It is never too early in a child’s life to build a solid foundation for the future, and the good people at Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. know this better than anyone.

JCHS (Jefferson-Clarion Head Start) has worked with area families for 34 years in building those critical support systems that everyone needs to survive, thrive, and succeed.

They are currently enrolling children and families for their programs in early childhood and family development, which are free.

“Right now is a great time for enrolling in our programs,” Program Manager Colleen Jeffries said.

“We have openings now, and we can determine their eligibility and learn more about the family.”

There are three main programs, including Early Head Start, Head Start, and Pre-K Counts.

Early Head Start is for families with infants and toddlers from birth to age three and pregnant women. It provides comprehensive child and family development services operating year-round for low-income families.

There are home-based services once a week to support child development and to nurture the parent-child relationship.

Also, there are chances twice a month for parents and children to get together as a group for learning, discussion, and social activity.

Pre-K Counts is for children three to five years of age. Children attend Monday through Friday, three hours per day for 180 days.

There are learning activities and experiences to meet each child’s individual needs with qualified and experienced staff. Services are also available to children with disabilities.

There are also chances for parent involvement. Children are taken to and from the classroom by their parents or guardians.

Services are available for those with income above poverty income guidelines.

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Head Start is for children three to five years of age. Children attend Monday through Friday, five hours per day for 160 days.

There are learning activities and experiences to meet each child’s individual needs with qualified and experienced staff. Services are also available to children with disabilities.

There are chances for parent involvement and transportation is provided for most children with support offered to help make arrangements or self-transport.

Family Literacy Program covers many important areas of education.

For adults, JCHS will help in getting a GED (General Educational Development), providing essential workplace skills. Also, for those who have a high school diploma, they will work to increasing math, reading, and language skills based on individual needs.

Parenting education helps teach parents to be their child’s first and most important teachers and be full partners in their child’s education by increasing parenting skills and knowledge of early childhood development and stressing the importance of reading and teaching emergent literacy and number skills.

Interactive literacy activities provides chances for parents and kids to learn and play together at home, in early childhood classrooms, Family Fun events and other special programs.

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In Early Childhood Education, kids not enrolled in elementary school, Head Start or another preschool program are engaged in educational activities at our centers while their parent works on adult education or parenting lessons.

Services are available for those with income below poverty income guidelines.

JCHS has received more funding and has expanded to 15 locations in both counties. They include Brookville, Clarion, Brockway, Punxsutawney, Reynoldsville, Sykesville, Rimersburg, New Bethlehem, Clarion-Limestone, Knox and A-C Valley.

“One of the major strengths of what we’re doing is we look at the strengths of each family and then build on them,” said Steve Berfield, Executive Director of Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. “We work to make positive relationships with families to get them to where they want to be.

“Also, we work to make it possible for parents to become involved quickly,” “We see the parents gaining confidence as the year goes on and they know they communicate with us.

“They know we are there to work with them, not just tell them what to do. It all boils down to trust and respect.”

Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. has also worked to strengthen its relationships with area schools.

“We meet a couple of times a year with every school and over the last 10 years, the districts are recognizing it’s a great partnership and we see our relationships with them as one, too,” Berfield said.

(Photo below: Steven C. Berfield, Executive Director and Pam Johnson, Business Manager/Assistant Director)
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One of the other neat things about JCHS is how many parents who had their kids enrolled in programs have went on to work for the agency.

“About one-third of our current staff were Head-Start parents at one time,” Jeffries said.

For more information or to download a program application, go to www.jcheadstart.com.

For specific information on Early Head Start and Head Start programs, call 814-849-3660 or 1-800-628-6150.

For information on Pre-K Counts programs, email info@jcheadstart.com or call 814-849-6758 or 1-888-623-7735.

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