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Contact Information
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Agency Description
Sponsoring Agency
The Early Head Start/PAT program is a project of Blue Valley Community Action Inc. (BVCA).
Blue Valley Community Action Inc. (BVCA) History/Background
Founded in 1966, Blue Valley Community Action Inc. (BVCA) is a private nonprofit 501 (c) (3) corporation serving children, families and communities in Nebraska and Kansas. The first program operated by Blue Valley Community Action was a summer Head Start program. Today, the corporation has five departments — Administration, Blue Valley Crisis Intervention, Family and Community Services, Housing and Rural Development, and Children and Youth Services. The Head Start, Early Head Start and Blue River Family Resource Center programs are part of the Children and Youth Services Department.
In addition to Head Start and Early Head Start, Blue Valley Community Action operates over 30 programs designed to meet the diverse needs of people living in the service area. This area includes nine Nebraska counties (Butler, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Polk, Saline, Seward, Thayer and York) and two Kansas counties (Jewell and Smith). Programs include emergency services (food pantries, homeless shelters, domestic violence and sexual assault crisis intervention), transitional services (transitional housing, case coordination) and support services (housing, nutrition, transportation, health care access, case coordination, information and referral). These services make BVCA an initial one-stop-shop to Head Start eligible families.
BVCA Head Start and Early Head Start Programs
Purpose. Head Start and Early Head Start promote school readiness of children in low-income families. This is accomplished by enhancing the child’s social and cognitive development through the provision of health, educational, nutritional, social, and other services that are determined, based on family needs assessments, to be necessary.
Head Start. Head Start programs provide low-income families with children ages three to five with comprehensive services to access health, education, nutrition and social services. Specific services for children focus on education, social and emotional development, physical and mental health, and nutrition.
Early Head Start. Early Head Start programs provide low-income pregnant women and families with children from birth to age three with family-centered services that facilitate child development, support parental roles, and promote self-sufficiency. Early Head Start is a Home Based Program that does home visits with the families once a week. There are two social activities a month for the families.
Service Area. The current Head Start service area includes nine Nebraska counties (Butler, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Polk, Saline, Seward, Thayer and York) and two Kansas counties (Jewell and Smith). While there is no formal site in Polk County, children may receive services at programs in adjacent counties. Gage County has two program sites — Beatrice and Wymore. York County has two program options — combination and full day/full year. Two counties currently have an Early Head Start Program — Gage and Saline.
For more information on BVCA's Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, contact Kathryn Molczyk, Children and Youth Services Director at 402.729.2278, bvca_kathryn@alltel.net.
Affiliations:
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National Association for the Education of Young Children
Parents As Teachers
United Way
Special Recognition
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Nebraska Good Beginnings Community
Nebraska SPRING
Through Nebraska SPRING, BVCA Early Head Start can access the Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC). The PIRC includes the Family Resource Line and access to the Early Childhood Training Center Media Center. The Media Center's numerous and varied materials are available on a free-loan basis. Additional information on these resources is available at Programs and Services.
In addition to the above support, BVCA Early Head Start is one of Nebraska's Parents As Teachers (PAT) programs. Through Nebraska SPRING, the Department of Education Parent Information and Resource Center program funds a state office that provides support to all Nebraska PAT programs.
PAT is an internationally recognized early childhood parent education and family support program. It is a voluntary program for parents with children from birth though age five. PAT promotes parent involvement in learning from the very beginning of a child’s life and fosters optimal development of the young child. This free program covers child development; suggests activities that encourage language development, intellectual growth, and social and motor skills; and strengthens the parent-child relationship.
A number of independent studies show that children who participate in PAT are significantly advanced over their peers and that these early gains continue after the children enter elementary school.
For more information on the BVCA Early Head Start program, contact Heidi Philippi at 402.729.2278, ext. 140.
On-Site Partners
In Saline County, BVCA Early Head Start is not currently co-located with other agencies. The office can be reached at 214 W 3rd Street, Box 723, Wilber NE 68465, 402.821.2335 (phone), 402.821.2393 (fax).
In Gage County, BVCA Early Head Start is co-located with agencies at the Beatrice Family Resource Center, 5109 W. Scott Road, Suite 404, Beatrice NE 68310, 402.223.6056 (phone), 402.223.6078 (fax).
Programs & Services
The following services are available through the BVCA Early Head Start program.
Parents As Teachers
Personalized Home Visits by a certified parent educator who offers timely information on child development and ways to encourage learning.
Book and Toy Library filled with fun, educational books and toys that are available for families to borrow.
Play Groups that encourage learning and socialization as well as interaction between parent and child.
Linkage of families with other community services.
Family Fun Nights with other parents and their children for an evening of family-centered fun.
Periodic Screenings to ensure that your child has no undetected learning, sensory (hearing and vision) or development problems.
Early Head Start
Early Head Start provides diverse services to meet the goals of the following four components:
Education. Head Start's educational program is designed to meet the needs of each child, the community served, and its ethnic and cultural characteristics. Every child receives a variety of learning experiences to foster intellectual, social, and emotional growth.
Health. Head Start emphasizes the importance of the early identification of health problems. Every child is involved in a comprehensive health program, which includes immunizations, medical, dental, mental health, and nutritional services.
Parent Involvement. An essential part of Head Start is the involvement of parents in parent education, program planning, and operating activities. Many parents serve as members of policy councils and committees and have a voice in administrative and managerial decisions. Participation in classes and workshops on child development and staff visits to the home allow parents to learn about the needs of their children and about educational activities that can take place at home.
Social Services. Specific services are geared to each family after its needs are determined. Services include community outreach, referrals, family need assessments, recruitment and enrollment of children, and emergency assistance and/or crisis intervention.
Affiliate Partners
To accomplish its mission, the BVCA Early Head Start Program coordinates with other private and public agencies and community-based organizations. Primary partners include:
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Beatrice Community Hospital
Beatrice Family Resource Center
Beatrice Parents As Teachers
Blue River Family Resource Center
ESU # 5 Early Intervention Program
ESU # 6 Early Intervention Program
Even Start
Mother-To-Mother
Nebraska Heath and Human Services System
WIC
Wymore Parents As Teachers
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