HEAD START

Ready for School - Ready for Life

The Parent Child Development Corporation is the grantee agency for the Bridges Head Start Program. Head Start is a federally-funded, comprehensive early-childhood-education program targeted to at-risk preschool children and their families. Services focus on individualized preschool education and school readiness; social and emotional development; dental, physical, and mental health; and nutrition.

As Head Start addresses the needs of the whole family, parental involvement is a vital element in the success of the program. Parents are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways, including classroom volunteering, parenting workshops, at-home activities with their children, center committees, training, community events, and special projects.

The Head Start program is governed by the Policy Council, which consists of Head Start parents and community representatives. This is another opportunity for parents to become involved and develop leadership skills.

The Bridges Head Start Program is currently funded for 216 children and families in Charles City, King & Queen, King William, Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, and New Kent counties in Virginia. There are twelve Head Start centers: four in Gloucester, two in King William, and one each in Charles City, New Kent, Mathews, Middlesex and West Point, The program operates four days per week in all centers, except New Kent, Tuesday through Friday. The New Kent Center operates Monday through Thursday.  The Mathews center, located in Mathews High School, is a collaborative, youth-partnership project providing practical experience for high-school students enrolled in the early-childhood-education program.

                        

West Point Head Start Students Entertain at Graduation

The agency administrative office is located at 610 18th Street, West Point, VA. The phone number is 804-843-2289.  The Head Start office is at 702 Main Street, West Point, VA.  Their phone number is 804-843-2275.

Below are some links to sites that you may find helpful:

National Head Start Association

Head Start Bureau

Virginia Head Start Association

NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)