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Staff Writer
Anoka-Washington County Head Start literally gives kids a head start on their journey of lifelong learning.
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 During November’s Families Doing Good Together event at Anoka-Washington County Head Start, three-year old Jessica Olson took a last look at the greeting card she made before dropping it into the mailbox. Jessica’s homemade card was sent to a hospitalized child and was one of several projects Head Start children and their families completed during the event, which was offered in order to give young families an opportunity to volunteer together. Photo by Sue Austreng
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Jan. 5, Gov. Tim Pawlenty gave the program a head start on national recognition for its excellence when he nominated it for the federal Center of Excellence Award.
“The Head Start program...is a valuable asset for children and families in Minnesota,” the governor said in his nomination letter.
“We are just truly thrilled with this honor, with the governor’s high opinion of our work here,” said Head Start director Jacqueline Cross.
“We could not do it without our parents, our staff and our community. It’s truly a collaboration and this is a wonderful opportunity.”
In his nomination, Pawlenty recognized that the Anoka-Washington County Head Start was performing at the highest level of quality in its service to the children and families of Minnesota, Cross said.
Pawlenty’s nomination of Anoka-Washington County Head Start’s free program puts it in the running for $1 million in federal funds if it is among 10 Head Start agencies chosen at the national level.
The Centers of Excellence program was established in the 2007 amendments to the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. § 9831 et seq.).
The process implemented this year allows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head Start to fund 10 Centers of Excellence.
Each designated grantee will be awarded $200,000 a year for a period of five years.
Earning the Center of Excellence Award is a two-step process, Cross said.
“The next step is to complete the federal application. Then we will compete with at least 10 agencies to represent centers of excellence,” she said.
The federal Centers of Excellence program recognizes Head Start and Early Head Start grantees that are performing at the highest levels of quality.
“These excellent and effective programs are those that have achieved and are actively building upon full compliance with the program performance standards,” said Bridget Burton, Head Start program planner.
“These are programs that are implementing comprehensive, innovative and targeted approaches to enhance program services.
“Such programs are producing positive, measurable outcomes for children’s school success; families supporting children’s learning, and increased staff competency.”
According to Cross, the cornerstone of the Head Start program is parent and community involvement, which has made it one of the most successful preschool programs in the state.
Head Start’s service area
Anoka County is the fourth largest county in the state and is characterized by a mix of urban, suburban and rural areas.
Washington County is the sixth largest county in Minnesota and comprises primarily of suburban and rural areas located in the eastern part of the metropolitan area bordering Wisconsin.
The Anoka/Washington County service area is home to approximately 208,600 children, under age five, who are living in poverty.
This large number of children accounts for nearly 9 percent of the cities’ total population with diverse cultural and racial backgrounds.
During the previous year, Head Start services were provided to families representing 21 different languages.
History of Head Start
Head Start is a free multi-faceted child and family development program for income-eligible households in Anoka and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
ACCAP (Anoka County Community Action Program), which operates Head Start, is a non-profit corporation in the county, delivering programs and resources for individuals and families with lower incomes since 1965.
Head Start was implemented that same year and is designed to help pregnant women and children aged birth to five and their families achieve their full potential.
The Head Start program literally gives children a head start on their journey of lifelong learning.
The program also gives parents a head start in maintaining family continuity and self-sufficiency.
Registration for Head Start is ongoing as children can be enrolled as vacancies occur throughout the school year.
Programs and services offered by Anoka-Washington Head Start include Head Start Preschool, Head Start Home Based Program and Early Head Start, as well as family development services, health services, family learning center, recruitment and enrollment and transportation (busing services).
Testimonials
“Head Start has been a godsend for both my children,” one Head Start mother wrote on the organization’s Web site.
“I cannot think of a better place for children to get so much preparation (individual and one-on-one) for kindergarten... Not only is Head Start directed to the child’s needs, but also the needs of the parents.”
“Head Start has an abundance of information for any source you may need help with such as; financial, counseling, furniture, etc.”
“My son needed speech classes and Head Start provided that individual service to him for two years... I am so grateful for the wonderful services and great teachers Head Start has to offer.”
For more information about Anoka-Washington County Head Start, visit www.accap.org/head_start.asp.
Sue Austreng is at
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