HEAD START

Mission: NRCA’s Head Start mission is to build on the unique strengths of children and families; through positive engagement, health education and a quality preschool experience.

NRCA’s Head Start prepares children for lifelong success through school readiness by partnering with families to support goals in the home and school environment.

Head Start is a federally-funded preschool program which offers comprehensive developmental services to children 3-5 years of age. Children with special needs comprise at least ten percent of the enrollment. The primary components of Head Start are education, social services, preventative health and nutrition. The program focuses on the entire family, and includes parent involvement as a fundamental part of Head Start.

In addition to the educational opportunities for children, Head Start provides many individualized educational skill and involvement opportunities for parents, included among the many avenues are literacy classes, parenting classes, educational and employment training opportunities within and outside Head Start, and parent meetings. Also, parents may serve as representatives on Policy Council, which is the governing body of the Head Start Program.

Over 300 children currently receive services through Head Start centers located throughout the New River Valley .

Contact the Head Start administrative office or the local New River Community Action office in your area for more information.

New River Community Action Head Start and New River Community College have joined efforts to serve the New River Valley. A Head Start classroom is located on the college campus serving seventeen three and four-year-old children.  These parents are enrolled in the NRCC Accountability to Student Learning Program which provides NRCC case manager services (Connection Specialists) in addition to the Head Start Family/Health Advocate for family services.  These services are critical to ensure that Head Start parents are successful. (This Head Start Early Learning Center classroom will be an option for parents throughout the NRV and will also serve as a Lab classroom for the NRCC Early Childhood Education and Human Services programs.)

NRCA Head Start Locations:

Click on + / – for contact details at your local center.

Please call your Head Start center
for their local e-fax number if needed.