Head Start Child Care

The program provides additional learning resources and family supports to childcare centres. Resource teams offer access to early intervention and prevention services to support developmental outcomes for children and their families. This is a new model of service delivery similar to Head Start, aimed at increasing developmental outcomes for children.

The program provides additional learning and family supports to children in child care and family day home settings, where there is a significant population of low income, multicultural and/or Aboriginal families. Our program also strives to enhances the capacity of the participating agency’s and staff to meet the developmental needs of young children and families who are in need of additional supports. Our Outreach worker supports parenting relationships and helps maintain the family structure. They facilitate family through referrals, support parent involvement in case conference meetings and provide support and counsel to families with issues. The early childhood educators provide an enriched experience in child development, support individual program plans for children within a group care environment and model best practices.

And children, who qualify, have the opportunity to access a variety of services through Head Start Child Care. Some of these services include: a certificated B.Ed teacher to develop and monitor Individual Program Plans for children.

Specialized therapy services when appropriate. These may include Speech and Language Pathologists and/or Occupational Therapists who would make visits to the child at the child care centre to ensure growth and development are taking place.

An enhancement worker may also be available to provide enhancement in the childcare settings to ensure that the child’s needs and identified goals are being met in an inclusive environment.

Additional supports available to children and families within the participating agency’s (child care centres) include Alberta Children’s Services Licensing team support, Primary Health team support which may include: health screenings, health education and awareness through in-services and promotional materials for caregivers, providers and parents and formalized contact with a public health nurse.