Head Start programs support children's growth from birth to age 5 through services that support early learning and development, health, and family well-being. Head Start staff actively engage parents, recognizing family participation throughout the program as key to strong child outcomes. Services are available at no cost to children ages birth to 5 in eligible families. Head Start preschool serves families with children ages 3 to 5. Early Head Start serves families with children ages birth to 3, and pregnant women.
SHARE delivers healthy and safe child development services in a center-based setting. Our program continually works toward our mission to help people and communities exit poverty and achieve economic stability.
Disability Services
SHARE Head Start recognizes the importance of school readiness for ALL children. A child with special needs can increase his or her learning and social abilities more readily in a group with typical children.At the beginning of each program year, all children are provided the following screenings:
- Speech/language,
- sensory,
- behavioral and developmental screenings
Each child suspected of a disability or behavioral concerns will be referred to the Disability Specialist. The teaching team will provide necessary strategies and discuss concerns with the child's parent before a referral is made. Our program works closely with the local school districts, BabyNet and other community agencies to provide services to meet the special learning needs of children and their families.
SHARE Head Start adheres to the federal mandate of ensuring that not less than 10% of our enrollment are children with disabilities.
Early Head Start
The Early Head Start (EHS) program for children birth to age three, attempts to capitalize on evidence that these years are critical to children's development. We also provide services to Pregnant Women. Early Head Start promotes healthy prenatal outcomes, healthy families and infant and toddler development beginning as early as birth.Education
SHARE Education Services provides children with a solid foundation for school readiness and life success. We implement the High/Scope curriculum as an open framework to provide individualized instruction for all children. A child with special needs can increase their learning and social abilities in a group with typical children. Enhancement curriculums are interwoven to provide all children opportunities to strengthen intrinsic motivation for later learning.Education
SHARE Education Services provides children with a solid foundation for school readiness and life success. We implement the High/Scope curriculum as an open framework to provide individualized instruction for all children. A child with special needs can increase their learning and social abilities in a group with typical children. Enhancement curriculums are interwoven to provide all children opportunities to strengthen intrinsic motivation for later learning.We continue to influence the developmental competence of children birth to five through the implementation of our school readiness goals. Our school readiness goals align with the Head Start Framework, South Carolina's Standards Birth to Five, and High Scope Key Developmental Indicators.
We strive to raise the quality of education for children by participating in the SC ABC Quality Rating System and maintaining national accreditation sanctioned through National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
The following links will provide additional information:
www.PalmettoBasics.org
Education
SHARE Education Services provides children with a solid foundation for school readiness and life success. We implement the High/Scope curriculum as an open framework to provide individualized instruction for all children. A child with special needs can increase their learning and social abilities in a group with typical children. Enhancement curriculums are interwoven to provide all children opportunities to strengthen intrinsic motivation for later learning.Family Engagement
SHARE Family Engagement services builds relationships with families that support family well-being, strong relationships between parents and their children, and ongoing learning and development for both parents and children. Our staff provides parents with opportunities for growth as they learn to identify their own strengths, needs, interests and find their own solutions; nurture the development of their children within their family and culture; and build trust and collaborative relationships between parents, staff and the community. We depend on our parents, families and the community to make our program successful.Our staff encourages and builds family relationships by:
- Helping parents establish and progress toward family and child development goals
- Providing parents with opportunities for interactions and meetings with other parents, program staff and community agencies
- Providing parent education activities that are responsive to parents needs
- Providing opportunities for parents to be included in the program curriculum
- Connecting the family with community resources and organizations
- Providing opportunities to continue education and employment training/services
- Promoting parent participation in literacy opportunities/services
- Assisting families to participate in community projects
Additional Resources:
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/family
Health Services
SHARE recognizes that school readiness is greatly impacted by a child's health. Therefore, our Birth to Five Program staff support parents, children, and their families to provide the following:- a medical and dental home;
- vision, hearing, developmental, speech and behavioral screening;
- immunizations,
- well-child physical/dental examinations according to South Carolina Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) schedule;
- evaluations, treatment, and needed follow-up as recommended by medical/dental professionals.
We also care for individualized health needs and provide a healthy and safe environment for all children. Our program manages the prenatal care of pregnant women by ensuring medical and dental examinations and recommended treatment. We provide educational classes pertaining to prenatal and infant care such as:
- breast feeding
- nutrition
- labor and delivery
- SIDS
- fetal growth/development
- postpartum depression
The following links will provide more information on well-child care, health and safety and sick exclusion:
www.scdhec.gov
www.healthychildren.org
www.nrckids.org
www.safekidsupstate.org
Mental Health Services
Head Start recognizes the importance of providing mental health and psychological services to children in order to promote healthy development. Mental health professionals are available to provide scheduled classroom observations, consultations and training to staff and parents to make them aware of the need for early attention to the special concerns of children. SHARE Head Start collaborates with community agencies that provide services to meet the social and emotional needs of Head Start children and families. The Disability Specialist will work with the parent(s), the teacher, the teacher assistant, the center manager and community agencies to serve the child's social and emotional development.Nutrition Services
SHARE meets each child's nutritional needs including children with special dietary needs. We meet age appropriate feeding requirements and schedules including:- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Snack
- Infant formula
Meals are planned and supervised by a Registered Dietician and include foods which are high in essential nutrients and low in sugar, salt and fat. In order to promote socialization and broaden children's food preferences, foods with a variety of color, texture and taste are served family-style.
Growth assessments are obtained twice (2) a year and necessary follow-up is provided in cooperation with parents and our Registered Dietician. Pregnant women receive nutritional assessments and education pertaining to breast feeding, infant formula and feeding technique. Breast feeding is supported with an area of comfort and privacy including appropriate storage of breast milk and formula.
The following links will provide more information on child nutrition;
www.nutrition.gov
www.llli.org
www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/child-and-adult-care-food-programg
www.scdhec.gov
Referrals of children with Special Needs
SHARE Head Start welcomes and appreciates all referrals of children with special needs that are provided to Head Start/Early Head start. Community agencies such as BabyNet, the Meyer Center for Special Children, A Child's Haven, The Dept. of Disabilities and Special Needs Board (DDSN), local pediatricians, School Districts, Mental Health clinics, DHEC, The School for the Deaf and Blind, and many others refer children with special needs to our program. Inclusion works. Children with atypical behavior learn more readily with their typical peers. Children receive at their Head Start and EHS centers:- on-site intervention services,
- speech services,
- part-day and itinerant special education services
Social Services/ERSEA
The Social Services area is designed to implement the Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance (ERSEA) Plans for homeless children, children in foster care, families receiving public assistance (SSI/TANF/SNAP), income eligible children, and children with disabilities, including severe disabilities. This area also develops, coordinates and implements child abuse and neglect training for staff and parents.Additional resources:
www.attendanceworks.org
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/operations/docs/1305-federal-register.pdf
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/standards/im/2015/resour_im_004_091815.html
https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/toolkits/early-education-toolkit/
https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/toolkits/integrating-attendance-into-kindergarten-transition/
Volunteers
Volunteers support SHARE's Mission with children and familiesVolunteers are needed to contribute their time and talents to our program. Volunteers also provide administrative support and enable us to meet our non-federal match each year. Volunteers are welcome to share in all activities to provide opportunities to build relationships, and become positive role models with children in classroom settings. SHARE Head Start offers Volunteer Orientation throughout the school year to familiarize volunteers with our policies and procedures. We are grateful for your interest and contributions.