PROSPERITY — Preparing children for next level success is just one of many tools that Rikard Head Start Center has to offer.

“Head Start is a self-sufficiency and school readiness program. Not only do we prepare children for their next educational setting, which is typically kindergarten, we are also a self-sufficiency program. We also have case workers, which also makes our program unique that tend to the immediate needs of a family,” said center coordinator Erica Gallman.

Gallman also said that if there are any needs, such as going back to school, completing a GED or needs such as food or shelter, the case workers at Head Start are responsible for meeting those needs and connecting parents with the right resource.

Head Start teaches under the HighScope curriculum, which will prepare children for their next educational setting under this curriculum.

“Our teachers are all responsible for having at least an Associates degree in Early Childhood, so all of our teachers do have formal training and our ratios in the classroom are 17 children maximum in the three-year-old rooms and the four-year-old’s have maximum,” said Gallman.

Along with education and casework, Head Start also makes sure that all children have had physicals and dental screenings, making sure children are up-to-date on their six month cleanings and yearly checkups at the doctor.

“That is a requirement for our program and part of that is making sure that parents understand how important health and education are for helping their children,” said Gallman.

Head Start also holds parent meetings every month that are geared towards whatever issues parents have either seen or described in their homes, such as stress or financial management, buying a home or budgeting.

“Whatever subject the parents have said they have struggles with, we make sure we find someone in the community who is a specialist in that area to come in monthly and train the parents and give them the information they need so that they can be successful in the areas where they see they have challenges,” said Gallman.

Gallman said that the most common topic that parents bring up in the monthly meetings deals with finances, ranging from budgeting, resume writing or seeking general employment.

“Head Start does mainly serve low-income families. We do accept over-income families, according to the poverty guideline set by the federal government, but mainly gear our program towards low-income families, because statistically those families need the most encouragement and help in reaching self-sufficiency. That’s a big part of Head Start,” said Gallman.

At Head Start, children will learn basic skills, but also implements STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, by making sure that students are exposed to subjects that they will need moving forward.

Gallman said that Head Start is also going to be planning more field trips that will expose children to things they might not see in their environments, like nature walks that will help enhance their educational experience.

For parents interested in enrolling their child/children in Head Start, calls or walk-ins are welcome between eight and four o’clock. Parents can meet with a caseworker and complete their intake, which includes filling out the application, bringing in income information, which would include your last two pay stubs from last year’s income tax return information.

“We also require that you have your updated shot records. You have to have your latest dental exam and your latest physical exam, too. We want to make sure that the children are healthy. We also have to comply with South Carolina DSS licensing requirements as well,” said Gallman. “We are changing the image of the program within the community. It’s really exciting for us to re-brand and really start to make additional partnerships and connections within the community that would enable us to expand and all of that is about these children. It’s about self-sufficiency and helping parents reach their goals, because when you have a happy household you have a healthier child. Parent empowerment is a really important piece of our program and expanding and making sure children have great experiences.”

Before starting at Head Start, children will go through a developmental screening to help give a better idea of where a child is at developmentally. Gallman said that if a child has been exposed to basic skills, then they want to know need to know where to start with the child.

“Once we get that information, we always let the parents know what that information entailed and how they can help us, because one thing that I like to really press is that we’re experts on development, but you are the expert on your child and so we need to know exactly what you know so that we can expand on that information,” said Gallman.

Rikard Head Start is located at 215 Rikard School Rd, Prosperity and can be reached at 803-364-0406. Walk-ins are welcome for parents interested in enrolling their children in Head Start.

Walk-ins or phone calls are welcome between eight and four o’clock for parents wanting more information.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Head-Start3.jpgWalk-ins or phone calls are welcome between eight and four o’clock for parents wanting more information. Kelly Duncan | The Newberry Observer

Rikard Head Start Center will be responsible for preparing children for the next grade level and also offer assistance to parents.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Head-Start1.jpgRikard Head Start Center will be responsible for preparing children for the next grade level and also offer assistance to parents. Kelly Duncan | The Newberry Observer

The cafeteria is empty right now, but will soon be filled with hungry children.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_Head-Start2.jpgThe cafeteria is empty right now, but will soon be filled with hungry children. Kelly Duncan | The Newberry Observer

By Kelly Duncan

kduncan@s24514.p831.sites.pressdns.com

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-768-3123 ext. 1868 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.