First Baptist Head Start

Parent Involvement

Parents play a very important part in the Head Start program.  Parents help make program decisions.  They participate in the classroom and in parent group activities and they help plan Head Start programs.  Many parents are also volunteers or paid employees.  Head Start parents receive preference for employment.

Parents may also participate in the Local Policy Committee (LPC).  This group consists of parents and community representatives and sets policy for the Head Start program.  The LPC must approve major program decisions, from hiring employees to making changes in budget and services.  The Policy Committee and Head Start staff evaluates the Head Start program to make sure that it meets all federal requirements as well as the needs of participating families.

Parents are involved in the planning of the:

• Education Curriculum

• Menus

• Field Trips

• Daily Classroom Activities

Male Involvement / Fatherhood Program

The First Baptist Head Start Male Involvement/Fatherhood program was established for the purpose of encouraging fathers and significant male figures to become actively involved in the social and educational development of their children, and to be positive role models for them.

The mission of FBHS Male Involvement/Fatherhood program is to provide opportunities for fathers and significant males to enhance their relationship with their children and families through interaction in Head Start activities, both within the center and off-site; assisting in the development of reading and literacy skills for kindergarten preparedness; and to serve as liaison in referring them to outside resources to assist them in achieving their personal and/or professional goals.

FBHS endeavors to accomplish this mission through:

•   Training and educating fathers, significant males, other family members, and agency staff in methods and techniques for interacting with children and improving parenting skills through community resource awareness, agency-sponsored workshops, etc.

• Designing creative and effective incentive and reward systems to encourage hesitant fathers/males to become more involved in classroom activities and program governance (Participating on decision-making committees).

• Conducting regularly scheduled Male Involvement meetings to solicit ideas and  suggestions from program fathers/males to better enhance the Male Involvement/Fatherhood program; share pertinent information regarding agency policies and procedures; and to schedule future activities and events.

• Develop and maintain strategic alliances and partnerships with other community agencies and Fatherhood-related programs to assist in providing services to FBHS children and families.

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