Community Services Help Many Needs

We first met ‘Susie’ and ‘Jeff’ for case management a few years ago. They were anxious to change their lives around for their four children and themselves.

They are a blended family which brings challenges to the family members. At the time they lived in a two bedroom house and mom and dad were sleeping in the living room. The children had some mental health issues that needed to be addressed and referrals were made to WIC, Head Start, and Region III Behavioral Health.

Today, the family is buying a four bedroom house and they have found a mental health home for themselves. Things are looking up for this family. 

Helping people, changing lives one family at a time.

HEAD START WELCOMES EARLY HEAD START SERVICES

Head Start, a program of Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska, has opened a brand new Early Head Start facility at 601A Central Avenue in Kearney. Center Based services began on Monday, January 17 th, while weekly home based visits began in August 2010. The newly renovated facility will have its Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on Thursday, February 10 th at 4:00pm. The public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting and interested individuals may tour the facility immediately following the ribbon cutting.

Early Head Start is funded to provide comprehensive services to 48 pregnant women, infants and toddlers. Seven Early Childhood teachers provide center based services to 28 participants in four infant/toddler classrooms, while the remaining 20 participants are provided weekly home visits by two EHS family educators. The objective of the Early Head Start program is to enhance the cognitive, social and emotional development of income eligible children through the provision of comprehensive health, educational, nutritional, social and other services and to involve parents in their children’s learning and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals.

Lois Butler, Head Start/Early Head Start Director states, “The years from birth to age 3 are absolutely critical in human development. Early Head Start is designed to complement Head Start, which serves preschoolers. This seamless 0 – 5 service model will benefit children long term.

Early Head Start enhances children’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development while helping parents with the goal of achieving self sufficiency through the family partnership and goal setting process. EHS creates an environment that builds upon and responds to the unique strengths and needs of each child and family, including: high quality early education, home visits, parent education, comprehensive health services, nutrition, and ongoing support to parents through case management and peer support groups. For enrollment or volunteer opportunities, please call (308) 865-5026.

Meredith Collins

Planning Director

Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska