ICS Head Start
ICS Head Start
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      • Nutrition Services
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    • Annual Reports
      • 2023-2024 Annual Reports
  • Home
  • Our Centers
  • About ICS
    • Our History
    • Child Development
    • Early Head Start
    • Our Director
    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Policy Council
    • Area Directors
  • Departments
    • Nutrition Services
    • Human Resources
    • Parent Engagement
    • Transition Services
  • Annual Reports
    • 2023-2024 Annual Reports

ICS Early Head Start

ICS EHS Program provides early education and developmentally appropriate  activities and instruction for children ages birth to 3 years and  pregnant women in eight (8) counties. Our services are child &  family focused and have the overall goal of increasing the School  Readiness of young children in low income families. All our services are  center based and comprehensive. Children attend our program five (5)  days a week in a safe, nurturing learning environment. Activities and  routines address approaches to learning, social and emotional  development, language and literacy, cognition, and perceptual motor and  physical development domains. Learning experiences are within the  context of children cultures and community. 

Early Head Start is committed to protecting and strengthening the bond  between parents and children. We support parents as the primary educator  of their child while providing continuity of care in our program. This  helps children build strong relationships which are critical for their  social and intellectual development. Today we know more than ever about  how your children develop and how to support early learning.  

 The first few years are critical to lifelong learning. The earliest  experiences and environments set the stage for development and success  in school and life. Positive experiences influence brain development and  establish the neural connections that provide the foundation for  language reasoning, problem solving, social skills, behavior, and  emotional health. A child’s “readiness” for learning requires support  from families, schools and communities. We understand that School  Readiness is the preparedness of young children to enter school ready to  learn and succeed. 

Early Head Start Information

Why Early Head Start?

  • Infants starting at eight weeks may be considered for enrollment. Infant child care costs about $1,760 per month in the US.
  • EHS is FREE for infants. No daycare charges!  Average infant  daycare runs $425.00 per week in our area, about 13% of the average  family’s budget & if a Single Parent family even more.
  • EHS also serves Toddlers. Head Start takes over for the pre-school years. 
  • EHS is FREE for toddlers. No daycare charges!  Toddler daycare and early learning classes run $1,365 per month in the USA. 
  • EHS children get preference for Head Start selection when the child becomes pre-school age.
  • Pregnant Women can also be enrolled. No cost to the future Mother either.  Lots of supports, resources and parenting education.
  • For a healthy pregnancy and birth outcome, EHS assists  expectant families with acquiring prenatal, postpartum, mental wellness,  medical & dental services.
  • Expectant families receive training and information on fetal  development including risk from smoking and alcohol use, labor &  delivery, and postpartum recovery including depression.
  • An enrolled Pregnant Mom’s child will have preference for  EHS selection & if ICS can’t get your child enrolled right away,  caseworkers will assist in linking you to other child care sources.
  • Diapers, formula, and any other supplies needed for enrolled  children are provided at no cost during operational hours. Diapers cost  about $25.00 per week so EHS saves the family about $50.00 each month  on diaper costs.
  • No cost healthy USDA approved meals are served. Those meals could cost the family $100.00 each week.
  • EHS classrooms are staffed with two qualified teachers with a ratio of one adult to 4 children; better than state requirements.
  • EHS schedules & routines are individualized. Babies are held when bottle fed.
  • Safety First! Infants & Toddlers have a separate playground.
  • ICS, EHS is located in 13 of the fourteen counties where ICS provides services.
  • ICS, EHS is in Benton, Clay, DeSoto, Grenada, Lafayette,  Lowndes, Marshall, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Tallahatchie, Tate, &  Tunica counties.
  • Currently ICS, EHS serves 320 children and 28 Pregnant Moms/Expectant Families.

A Few ICS Early Head Start Facts

  • In EHS, 97% for of the parents actively volunteer and  participate in parenting sessions on the Parent Curriculum topics, while  the national rate is only 43.1%. What a good program!
  • In EHS, last year 100% of ICS children were connected with  Medical and Dental providers, and complete or up-to-date on  immunizations.
  • In EHS 100% of the families and children received Nutrition  education, far higher than the national level of 48.5% and the state  level of 62.1%.

Early Head Start Virtual Visit

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