A Community Action Partnership Core Program

“Everything we do in Head Start is purposeful. From classroom or outdoor play, to focused learning experiences and even family-style meals, every minute of a day at the Center, or during a home visit, is designed to move a child – and a family – closer to breaking the cycle of poverty.” – Traci Bowman, Director, Community Action Partnership Head Start program

For more than 45 years, Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph has been providing programs and services to move low-income persons from poverty to self-sufficiency.  One of these core programs is Head Start and Early Head Start, a whole-family early child development program for children in poverty ages prenatal to 5 years.

Developed in 1964 by the federal Administration for Children and Families, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, Head Start is a nationwide program designed to break the cycle of poverty through school readiness and family involvement.  With 12 centers located across our four-county service area of Andrew, Buchanan, Clinton and DeKalb Counties, plus a strong home-based Head Start program, we serve nearly 500 children who either live in poverty who have a disability.

Who attends Head Start?
The typical Head Start family is a single mother with two pre-school aged children and an income level of approximately $13,500. To quality for full-day Head Start care, a parent must be attending school or working at least 20 hours per week.
There is no charge to the families to attend Head Start, but there is a waiting list for families who want to enroll in our full-day, full year facility and our partial-week centers.

Why is it a critical program?
In Buchanan County alone, 17.2% of children under age 5 are living in poverty. (Source: Missouri Youth Initiative) The impact of growing up in poverty is devastating. Children living in poverty experience significantly reduced feelings of safety, a lack of adequate social and emotional development; physical malnutrition combined with a lack of health and dental care, and live in homes with high stress levels. They often do not receive cognitively stimulating pre-school experiences or enriching activities. Each of these factors greatly reduces their chances for success at school and to thrive as adults – and reduces the chance that they will escape the cycle of poverty.

By the time a child reaches the age of 3 years old, 90 percent of the brain is developed. By age 4, concepts of compassion, conscience and personal responsibility are established. (Missouri Head Start Association)

Head Start in Northwest Missouri: 
Through Head Start, Community Action Partnership serves approximately 500 children in 12 centers across Andrew, Buchanan Clinton and DeKalb Counties. In Buchanan County, an Early Head Start program is available to serve pregnant mothers and children up to age 3, in conjunction with Head Start serving children ages 3-5.

Why is Head Start set apart from other early childhood programs?
Head Start works because of its whole-family focus, and its attention to the unique needs of families living in poverty. Every enrolled child receives free medical examinations, immunizations, dental screenings and mental health evaluations – including treatment plans. Families are provided transportation to and from the Center-based programs, and many home visitors arrange transportation to doctor and dentist appointments when needed.

Weekly home visits with Head Start professionals an integral part of the program for every enrolled family. Through this one-on-one attention, families learn to be leaders. Parenting skills are nurtured. Goals are set and accomplished for the whole family’s success. Parents can even volunteer in the classroom or serve on the Head Start Policy Council, building strong skills for success in the community and workplace.