Education
Early Head Start
Early Head Start is a federally-funded comprehensive program designed to meet the needs of infants, toddlers, and their families. The program is tailored to meet the unique needs of infants and toddlers under the age of 3, and pregnant women. We provide a range of services, including health and nutrition, social and emotional development, and family support. Early Head Start focuses on building strong, nurturing relationships between children, parents, and caregivers. We also provide resources and services to help low-income families gain access to healthcare, housing, and other needed services. Early Head Start is available at Head Start of Northeastern Nevada and is committed to providing the highest quality of care and early education to all children and families in the community. Our goal is to promote physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, while also helping parents fulfill their roles and move toward self-sufficiency. Through safe and developmentally enriching care, our program is designed to foster each child’s growth and development.
Expectant mothers, you are not alone. We offer you the services and resources you need for a healthy pregnancy, including prenatal nutrition and parenting classes. Our knowledgeable staff will provide you with the proper guidance and information to make informed decisions during and after your pregnancy. We’ll also provide your children with nutritious meals and snacks while assessing their health needs and offering advice on their diet. Contact us today to find out how we can support you and your family!
Head Start Preschool
Head Start Preschool is a federally-funded program designed to provide comprehensive educational and developmental services to children aged 3 to 5 years old. The program focuses on building strong, nurturing relationships between children, parents, and caregivers. It also provides resources and services to help low-income families gain access to healthcare, housing, and other needed services. With an emphasis on school readiness, Head Start Preschool provides a wide range of activities, including language and literacy, math and science, creative expression, and physical development. At Head Start of Northeastern Nevada, our team is committed to providing the highest quality of care and early education to all children and families in the community.
Family Engagement
Give your child the best possible foundation for success with Early Head Start and Head Start. Our programs are designed to foster growth and development in every aspect of their lives, from birth to age five. Our dedicated staff will work with you to set family goals and create a plan to reach those goals. We’ll ensure your child has regular medical and dental check-ups and can help you find free or low-cost services in your community. With Head Start of Northeastern Nevada, you have a partner in your child’s journey.
- Family partnership and ongoing support
- Opportunities to volunteer and learn new skills
- Socialization activities
- Assistance in identifying and setting personal, child, and family goals, and developing plans to reach them
- Referrals to community resources and services
Health And Nutrition
- Provide information and support to families to complete prenatal, postpartum, and well check-ups
- Screen and assess children regularly to track developmental progress, including vision, hearing, and growth
- Promote medical and dental examinations, immunizations, comprehensive health screenings, and necessary follow-up services.
- Focus on mental health and wellness of children and families by providing financial resources for counseling through our contracted provider or providing other resources.
- Provide healthy breakfast, lunch, and snacks that adhere to USDA Standards, including formula and age-appropriate baby food.
- Contracted with a Registered Dietician to create yearly menus and assist families with dietary restrictions, nutrition services, and education for children and families
- Provide diapers and wipes for Early Head Start children
- Complete monthly fire drills and quarterly disaster drills to practice safety for children and staff
- Provide and practice parking lot safety guidance
Support For Children With Disabilities
- Nevada Early Intervention Services works with us to ensure early identification and intervention for children with disabilities and their successful integration into all program activities.
- We also offer support to families of these children to ensure their needs are met.
Qualifications
Staff Qualifications
We take our responsibility in caring for your children seriously. All of our childcare experts have passed comprehensive background checks. With over 50 years of experience working with children from infancy to five years old, we are dedicated to preparing children for their next step in a pre-k or kindergarten classroom. We provide top-quality meals, supervise fun and enriching games, lessons, and outdoor activities, and are inclusive of children with special needs. We focus on increasing children’s cognitive and social abilities through fun, safe, and educational games and activities. We also provide delicious, healthy meals prepared onsite.
All of our staff are:
- CPR Certified
- Compliant with Child Care Licensing
- Members of the Nevada Registry
- Complete at least 24 hours of training annually to keep up to date on the latest childcare research, standards, and practices
Program Qualifications
- NAEYC certified and staff attend yearly training seminars and educator enrichment programs “NAEYC Accreditation helps families recognize quality early learning programs and feel comfortable knowing that their children are receiving a high-quality, research-based education that will prepare them for future success” (www.naeyc.org).
- Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) “A QRIS is a systemic approach to assess, improve, and communicate the level of quality in early and school-age care and education programs. QRIS awards quality ratings to early and school-age care and education programs that meet a set of defined program standards. By participating in their State’s QRIS, early and school-age care providers embark on a path of continuous quality improvement” (https://ecquality.acf.hhs.gov/about-qris).
- Licensed through the Department of Health and Human Services - Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH).
- Governed by a Board of Directors
- Healthy menus prepared by a Certified Dietician
- We offer excellent parent classes and volunteer opportunities, so you can have peace of mind knowing that your children are in the best possible hands.
- Comprehensive prenatal nutrition guidance and parenting classes for soon-to-be parents
- Community Partnerships with Nevada Early Intervention Services and Elko County School District to support children with Disabilities.
- Family Advocates partner with families to support foundations for success
- Classroom Assessment Scoring System(R) - an observation tool that is designed to look specifically at interactions that are happening in the classroom. It is published by Teachstone and is used nationally.