COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

1995-96

IV. Education, Health, Nutrition, and Social Service Needs

Audubon Area Head Start provides a wide and comprehensive range of services to children and families in the areas of Education, Health, Nutrition, and Social Service Needs. The description below outlines the types of services that have been identified and that are currently being provided to Head Start children and families. This section is followed by an analysis of the specific education, health and family services that were provided to our children and parents during 1994-95 as reported on the Program Information Report (PIR).

Summary of Services

Education, Disability, and Mental Health Services.

All children receive developmentally appropriate services individualized to their needs. Each child is assessed through the Learning Accomplishment Profile -- Diagnostic Edition (LAP-D) when he/she enters the program. A computer-aided program then assists teachers to prepare the child's individualized objectives and activities, which are used by staff, parents, and volunteers to help the child gain those particular skills he/she needs. Classrooms are arranged in learning centers containing a variety of appropriate materials used by the children each day. A balance of classroom activities, using different themes, hands-on, creative activities are provided. Children "learn as they play". Head Start's mandate Ensures that ten percent of its funded enrollment are children with disabilities. Each disabled child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), is integrated into the regular program, and receives special services such as speech/language therapy and physical therapy as appropriate. Mental Health services are also provided to children, parents, and staff. A mental health observation is conducted in every classroom with professional follow-up as needed. Evaluations are provided for children exhibiting special needs.

Health Services.

Children receive a medical, dental, and developmental history upon enrollment. Immunization and TB Skin test certificates are obtained prior to enrollment. Children are also screened for speech, hearing, and vision problems. Dental exams are provided for all children with follow-up care as needed. Physical examinations are provided by physicians or local health departments. A Health Advisory Committee meets twice each year to advise in any problem that may arise in the areas of physical health, dental health, nutritional services, and mental health.

Social Services.

A family needs assessment is completed on each enrolled family. Family Service Workers assist families throughout the year with their identified needs. Social service staff visit each home when a child is absent for more than three consecutive days. Families are referred, as needs present themselves, to the respective service agencies according to the clients' needs. The social service component also coordinates the recruitment of children and families for the program.

Nutrition Services.

Breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks are served at each center depending on each individual center's schedule. Meals are provided to staff and parents volunteering in the classroom. Meals are provided by agency kitchens or through contracts with local school districts. Nutrition assessments are completed on each child upon enrollment and plans are devised to improve the entire family's nutritional habits. Basic nutrition is taught in the classroom and to parents through Parent Workshops.

Parent Involvement Services.

Head Start emphasizes the importance of parent involvement in the growth and development of the child. Numerous training events and activities throughout the year assist parents in their own personal and parental development. AACS staff work with the community colleges, local school district and adult learning centers and inform the parents of resource information available - such as information on General Educational Development (GED) services or college opportunities and aid - in their local communities. "Parents are their children's primary teachers." This basic Head Start philosophy strongly fosters parents taking an active role in their child's Head Start experience. Parent volunteers in the classroom, accompany their child to physicals and dentals, attend trainings on nutrition, child growth and development, safety, and health, and parents are afforded the opportunity to participate in local parent meetings and the Head Start Policy Council which is made up of parents and representatives of the community. This group meets regularly to discuss and initiate procedures/activities that affect the children and parents involved in the Head Start program. Parents are a vital link in strengthening the Head Start program for themselves and their children.

COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

1995-96

V. Community Resources

Utilizing a variety of funding sources, Audubon Area Community Services, Inc. provides a variety of support and assistance to the children and families served in the Head Start program. In addition, in the appendices is a copy of the 1994-95 board report which outlines a variety of other community services that are provided through Audubon including homeless and relief services, low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP), Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, Family Preservation Program, The Green River Intra-County Transit System (GRITS), Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Home Weatherization Program. This Annual Report provides a capsule view of the cliental and services summary as well as expenditure summary for the agency.

Child and Family Support Services

Rolling Heights Family Development Center.

Rolling Heights Family Development Center began operation in November 1989 under a HUD grant. Its objective is to provide quality child care to children whose parents are actively seeking employment or job-training skills in order to become self-sufficient. The center provides comprehensive child care twelve months a year to infants, toddler, and preschoolers. Funding for center operation is provided through local churches and corporations, foundation grants, and miscellaneous donors. The Housing Authority of Owensboro provides space rent-free. In March 1993, Rolling Heights Family Development Center became a member agency of United Way. An advisory council comprised of local representation continually provides assistance with local fundraising and networking of resources.

Wrap Around Project.

A Wrap-around program funded through a Child Care Development Block Grant currently allows Rolling Heights Family Development Center in Owensboro to extend hours of available services to 16 preschoolers attending these centers. Presently the preschoolers are attending classes Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., 9 months a year. Wrap-around allows the centers to extend their hours form 6:30 - 8:00 a.m. and 1:30 - 6:00 p.m., 12 months a year to meet the needs working parents.

HANDY-O.

HANDY-O (Hugs Area Necessary for Developing Young and Old) is an inter-generational project where Head Start children visit local nursing homes for one and a half hours each week to become involved in individualized activities with nursing home residents. This program allows children to receive additional instruction and individual attention while also increasing the self-worth of the nursing home residents. Audubon Area Head Start secured a Child Care Development Block Grant in 1992-1993 that funded all HANDY-O sessions for the school year 92-93. Several United Way Grants were applied for in Union, Webster, Henderson, Ohio, McLean, and Daviess County. Funding sources are continually sought for this worth while program.

Resource and Referral.

Audubon Area Resource and Referral provides needed day care and related services to both the Green River and Pennyrile Areas. Families seeking child day care services are informed of their options to enable them to make a better educated choice. Providers are informed of workshops and learning opportunities which advance their knowledge, understanding and professionalism. A monthly newsletter is mailed bulk rate to over 250 early childhood professionals. Start-up funding for this program was funded through a Child Care Development Block Grant.

Family Day Care Homes

Audubon Area Head Start is a sponsor for "Family Day Care" homes which participate in the Kentucky Child Care Food Program. This program insures nutritious meals for children being cared for in certified and licensed day care homes. Training for Family Day Care Homes and providers is an incentive for their participation in this program.

Other Support Services.

Specially Funded Project.

Audubon Area's Head Start program has for the past twenty-one years provided specialized training on serving children with disabilities to staff in the nine Head Start agencies in Western Kentucky. This covers an area that includes thirty-three (33) counties and agencies serving over 3,000 children - including over 800 disabled children. The Specially-Funded Component was responsible for a regional summer institute - in collaboration with the Regional Training Centers - with over 700 staff from both Head Start and public/private preschool programs. The Specially Funded Coordinator has also represented Head Start on the collaborative training team which has planned preschool training for the state.

PRAISE for Children (Preschool Resources Available for Integrated Special Education) was a special training grant received by Audubon to offer training patterned after the SHIPP model developed by the Kentucky Department of Education, Simpson County Regional Training Center. Five-day training seminars were conducted in Bowling Green, Lexington, Owensboro, and Rough River State Park. Head Start staff were trained to work with moderate to severely disabled preschoolers within the integrated preschool environment.

Computer Management.

Audubon Area Head Start continued in its eighth year as "lead agency" for Kentucky is assisting other Head Start programs implement the ChildPlus computerized management system for child and family tracking. Hands-on computer training, coordinated by Aubrey Nehring, was provided in collaboration with Kentucky Head Start Association Conferences. Technical assistance is also provided to each participating agency. 100% of Head Start programs are on the ChildPlus system.

SFC Quarterly Report Project.

Audubon coordinates the computer analysis of training data submitted by twenty-five specially funded coordinators in the eight state region. Quarterly Summary Reports are disseminated to the Regional Office and to all Specially Funded Projects throughout the region.

Staff Development (College Tuition Assistance Program)

Audubon Area's Head Start program encourages staff development by providing the cost of text books and tuition fee for six (6) college credits per semester, to employees who wish to further their college education.

CDA Program (Child Development Associate Credential)

The Child Development Associate or CDA is a person who is able to meet the specific needs of children and who, with parents and other adults, works to nurture children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth in a child development framework. To ensure competent child care staff and to prepare staff for the CDA Assessment, staff are enrolled at the Owensboro Community College. Text books, tuition for 18 credit hours in the area of Early Childhood Development is provided to participating staff by Head Start.

OSRPI Self-Evaluation

In order to assure high quality performance, Head Start implements a self study designed to monitor the daily operations of the program. The On-Site Program Review Instrument(OSPRI) is used to monitor the performance standards, regulations, and policies to determine compliance with the overall philosophy and goals of the Head Start Program. This evaluation provides Audubon a way to systematically identify the areas of strengths as well as weakness of the program. Measures can be taken to make improvements needed for achieving desired standards.

NAEYC Accreditation

The National Academy of Early Childhood Programs (a division of the National Association for the Education of Young Children) conducts an accreditation program to ensure quality standards are implemented in preschool programs. To be accredited, a program must meet a variety of strict criteria including on-site studies and reviews made by a three member national commission. Audubon Area Head Start is proud that Christian County Head Start and the Rolling Heights Family Development Center has met all of these requirements and is among the first of pre-school programs in our area to be accredited by NAEYC. We are seeking this accreditation for all of our centers.