Head Start Family Advocate Outlines Available ProgramsMarch 19th, 2008
By Naomi Hatch
Debbie Thomes, family advocate for Snowflake Head Start, spoke at the March 11 Snowflake Town Council meeting during reports of non-profit organizations.
She advised those attending that it has been shown that children who have been in the Head Start pro-gram or other pre-kindergarten programs are more ready for kindergarten than those who have not.
Thomes explained that Head Start is an income eligible pre-school program that is funded through a federal grant administered by the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG), which has been serving children for more than 30 years.
“We focus mainly on children of need,” she said, explaining that there are certain criteria to make chil-dren eligible.
Thomes said that the comprehensive family service pre-school program means not only that they ad-dress the pre-school child in an educational setting, which is very appropriate, but they address the family. She explained that if a parent does not have a high school diploma or GED, they assist them in pursuing their GED, and they also help monolingual families learn English. Another service they offer is counseling for a split family, such as yours, mine and ours. They encourage parents to attend pre-natal programs and work with the New Life Pregnancy Center in Snowflake, as well as tie into such groups as the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities.
Thomes said because they are in rural Arizona, they have a Home-Based Program that serves children ages 3-5 and their families. The Home-Based visitor works with parents to make the home a rich learning experience.
Head Start respects family traditions, values and culture, and helps parents develop individual learning activities for their children with special needs.
Thomes thanked the Snowflake Council for using the town’s CDBG grant to purchase playground equipment several years ago for Head Start.
“You impact that family and you impact them for the rest of their lives,” she said.
If you would like more information, contact Snowflake Head Start at 536-7330.
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