Page 8 - BusinessWest/Healthcare News 2021 Giving Guide

HOLYOKE
CHICOPEE
SPRINGFIELD
HEAD START
INC.
30 Madison Ave. Springfield, MA 01105 (413) 788-6522 Chief Executive Officer: Janis Santos
YEAR ESTABLISHED
1965
MISSION STATEMENT
Holyoke Chicopee Springfield Head Start Inc. is committed to providing low-income children and their families with a beacon of hope and source of support for a brighter future. We strive to do so by providing high-quality, comprehensive child-development services to enrolled children and empowering families to achieve stability in their home environment.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Holyoke Chicopee Springfield (HCS) Head Start is a comprehensive early- education program for children from at-risk backgrounds from birth to age 5. From early math and reading skills to confidence and resilience, we help children build the abilities they need to be successful in school and life. Head Start engages parents as partners with their child’s teacher and works closely with the local community to adapt to what each area needs. Every child has the ability to succeed, and together, we’re partnering with hundreds of children, families, and communities on their paths to success.
Head Start takes a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of young children, focusing on four major components:
• EDUCATION: Providing a variety of learning experiences to help children grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally;
• HEALTH: Providing health services such as immunizations; medical, dental, and mental healthcare; nutritional services; and early identification of health problems;
• FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Parents serve
on policy councils and committees that make administrative decisions, participate in classes and workshops on child development, and volunteer in the program; and
• SOCIAL SERVICES: Providing outreach to families to determine what services they need.
The program administers Head Start preschool programs, which primarily serve 3- and 4-year- old children, and Early Head Start programs for infants, toddlers, and pregnant women.
RESPONDING TO COVID-19
As a result of the current global pandemic, HCS Head Start has made the decision to offer both in-person and remote program options for the new school year for eligible infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. In an effort to support working families, a few classrooms will be open for in- person learning and care.
HCS Head Start’s remote service delivery and learning plan, or Head Start @ Home, is designed to facilitate children’s learning, support parents in their role of child’s first teacher, provide family- engagement opportunities, and continue to
offer comprehensive services. At-home learning kits (including Chromebooks), access to a virtual classroom, virtual home visits, and curbside resources and referrals will be made available to families in participating in Head Start @ Home.
HCS Head Start will continue to offer a remote service-delivery option until it is deemed safe to go back into the classroom environment.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Since Head Start’s beginning, the federal government has committed to cover 80%
of the actual costs of program services. It is anticipated that local programs, in collaboration with communities, raise the other 20%. The requirement for a non-federal share match to a Head Start or Early Head Start program reflects the partnership and commitment between the federal government and local community, and to the young children and families served in the program. You can:
• Donate classroom supplies;
• Give to the annual All I Want for Christmas campaign;
• Offer professional services; or
• Contribute a monetary donation.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are a number of ways to volunteer:
• Become a classroom volunteer;
• Help stock our Emergency Food Closet;
• Become a member of our Community Read-a-
Loud Program;
• Share a special talent with the children, such
as cooking or music; or
• Become a breakfast or lunch buddy.
IN THE NEWS
• HCS Head Start, in partnership with Educare Springfield, opened the 24th Educare school in January 2020. The state-of-the-art building holds a total of 141 children in 12 classrooms.
• HCS was named the Reader Raves 2021 Best Preschool Program, and the Massachusetts Head Start Assoc. awarded its most recent Parent/ Caregiver Award to a parent enrolled in the program.
THE TEAM
Janis Santos,
Chief Executive Officer
Janet Steigmeyer, Chief Operating Officer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Susan Gosselin, Chairperson
Raymond Akers, Vice Chairperson
Alison Walsh, Clerk
Cynthia Normand, Chief Financial Officer
Mahera Chiarizio, Director of Education
Mary Clancy Allen Jo Ann Asselin Dr. Andrew Balder Richard Brathwaite
Lori Chaves, Director of Family Services
Nicole Blais, Director of Community Engagement
Audra Phaneuf Jennifer Wallace Jacoby Sally Carlton
Dan Blakesley
42 DECEMBER 2020 GIVING GUIDE
BusinessWest /HEALTHCARENEWS