SHORE UP! Inc.’s Head Start program is recruiting children ages 3-5 for its 16 Head Start Centers on the Eastern Shore. To be eligible, the child’s family needs to meet federal income guidelines and live in one of the seven counties where SHORE UP! operates Head Start Centers: Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico or Worcester. Head Start is a comprehensive family-development program that offers qualifying families services at no cost, in the areas of education, literacy, disabilities, health care, dental care, nutrition, and social development. Transportation may be provided. The focus of the program is to prepare children to be ready to enter kindergarten. All Head Start Centers are currently recruiting children. Priority is given to children with disabilities. Children in foster or kinship care are also eligible for services.
Each weekday from 9 am to 2:30 pm, children participate in educational activities, such as learning colors, letters and numbers, and studying other subjects to prepare for kindergarten. Teachers and teacher aides work with children as necessary to help them with their socialization skills. Children are served a nutritious and healthy breakfast, lunch and snack each day, based on the guidelines of the Child and Adult Care Food Program, part of the federal Nutrition Food Service. Transportation may be available. The Head Start program year runs nine months, beginning in late August or early September and ending in late May or early June.
To deal with children’s health needs, routine medical and dental screenings are done, including checking for immunizations and normal weight/height. Children learn about good health and hygiene habits, and about the dangers of drug, alcohol and tobacco use.
Parents are strongly encouraged to get involved in every aspect of their child’s Head Start experience. Child development is supported through nurturing relations among staff, parents and children. Many parents volunteer in the classroom or serve on Head Start Center policy councils
Social workers visit families to help them find effective methods to deal with issues such as single-parenting, illiteracy, homelessness, substance abuse, or other problems that interfere with optimal family functioning.
For more information about Head Start, the application process or eligibility requirements, please contact Denise Allen at SHORE UP! Inc., 410-749-1142, ext. 345.
At SHORE UP! Inc., no person shall on the grounds of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, or disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of or otherwise be subject to discrimination in the provision of any care, service or admission.
