Missouri Ozarks Community Action

MOCA Head Start Head Start is a comprehensive child development program for three to five year old children from low income families. Head Start has been a leader in providing services to children, including children with disabilities.
Head Start’s approach to services includes:

• A nurturing environment that supports the health, growth, and development of each child in the context of the child’s family, culture, and community;

• Parents as partners in the shared decision-making process and as active participants in policy groups;

• Recognition of the importance of strengthening linkages within communities

• Teaching children to have positive attitudes about themselves and learning * Transition activities to prepare children and families for public school

• Medical, Dental, Psychological and Handicapped services are provided at no cost to families

• Two meals each session and transportation to and from class are also provided MOCA Head Start offers part day and full day services to income eligible children ages 3 to 5 years. MOCA Head Start is committed to the integration of all agency and community services for the families we serve to ensure that our families have always come to the ‘right place’.

Established in 1965, Head Start promotes school readiness for children, ages three to five, in low-income families by offering educational, nutritional, health, social and other services. Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. Programs actively engage parents in their children’s learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs. Early Head Start, launched in 1995, provides support to low-income infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families. EHS programs enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; assist pregnant women to access comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care; support parents’ efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and help parents move toward self-sufficiency. Together Head Start and Early Head Start have served tens of millions of children and their families.

Child Ages:

3 years - 5 years

Licenses & Accreditations:

State of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Special Needs:

Medical, Dental, Psychological and Handicapped services are provided at no cost to families

Preschool:

Yes