Head Start preschool program looking for families

The Amador-tuolumne Community Action Agency is looking for families with young children to participate in its free Head Start program.

The income-based program offers classes that teach kindergarten readiness skills, life skills and healthy habits to children ages birth to 5, including those with special needs.

Head Start preschool is for children ages 3 to 5, while Early Head Start is for children ages 18 months to 3 years, and the Home Visiting Program is for children ages birth to 3 and pregnant mothers.

The program supports education and development by helping children build strong relationships as the foundation of early learning, and recognizes that parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers, stated a news release. The program uses five key teaching strategies including approaches to learning, social and emotional development, language and literacy, cognition, and physical development.

Children are served a free, healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks prepared on site and are encouraged to brush their teeth. Medical, dental, hearing, vision and behavioral screenings are also offered, and the program assists with mental health services for children and families to help resolve traumatic experiences and teach resilience, if needed.

For parents, Head Start offers the opportunity to volunteer in the classroom, learn leadership skills and possibly build a career path in early childhood education. About 35% of the program’s staff are former Head Start parents, a news release stated.

Classes for children ages 3 to 5 are offered from 8:20 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at its Jamestown and Blue Bell sites (Sonora); 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at its Soulsbyville site; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Summerville (Tuolumne) site.

Classes for children ages 18 months to 3 years are offered from 7:50 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Blue Bell (Sonora) site, and from 8 a.m. to 2:10 p.m. at the Jamestown site.

The Home Visiting Program offers 90-minute child-and-parent sessions for children ages birth to 3 years and pregnant mothers.

ATCAA’S Head Start program is funded with state and federal money.

To apply, go online to www.atcaa.org/earlychildhood-svs, call (209) 533-0361, or visit 427 N. Highway 49, Suite 202, in Sonora.