Clark and Cowlitz counties will soon have more Early Head Start spots available for the region’s youngest, most at-risk children.
Educational Service District 112 received a $1.6 million federal grant from the Administration for Children and Families to provide 84 new Early Head Start slots. Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded preschool and child care programs free to families who meet the federal poverty standards — a $24,600 annual income for a family of four.
ESD 112 offers Early Head Start home visits for 60 families, but Jodi Wall, executive director of early care and education, said that program doesn’t meet the needs of working families.
“They need a full-day, full-year program,” Wall said.
Families can enroll their children ages birth to 3 in the program. Classroom time will feature a blend of early learning activities, including play time, music, reading and outdoor activities. Students will also receive medical and dental screening, allowing families to intervene early if children need special medical attention before they start school.
“We’re engaging them in very nurturing teacher-child experiences,” Wall said. “We’re meeting the kids’ needs.”
Slots across 4 districts
Using existing facilities, ESD 112 will add 48 new slots at Vancouver Public Schools sites, including 24 for the district’s teen parent program at Hudson’s Bay High School.
There will be 12 slots at the Park Crest Early Learning Center in Evergreen Public Schools and 16 slots at South Ridge Early Learning Center in the Ridgefield School District. Ridgefield did not have subsidized early learning programs previously, Wall said.
ESD 112 will also launch a new facility for eight students at the Kalama School District in Cowlitz County. Kalama currently has no early learning programs, Wall said.
“That community is really in need,” Wall said.
Families need not live in the districts where their children attend Early Head Start programs, Wall said, though families typically do.
Programs will start opening over the next six months, depending on where the site is located.
ESD 112 offers licensed child care at 29 centers, as well as the state-subsidized Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, a preschool for low-income families.
