Knox County Head Start

Early Head Start is a federally funded, community-based program for low-income families with infants, toddlers and pregnant women. Its mission is to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, to enhance the development of very young children, and to promote healthy family functioning. Knox County Head Start is funded to serve 76 infants, toddlers and pregnant women and their families in the Early Head Start program at any one time. During the 2022-23 program year, KCHS provided services to 101 infants and toddlers in the 76 funded slots, with 83 of those children enrolled more than 45-days (seven transitioned to Head Start within 45-days of enrollment or the start of the program year). Nine (9) children served were identified with disabilities or developmental delays under an individualized family service plan. Of the 83 served more than 45 days, 92% (76/83) were up to date on all required primary and preventive health care. At the end of enrollment, 98/101 were current on immunizations, with 91 fully up to date, 5 having received all immunizations possible; and two (2) exemptions from immunizations. KCHS provided center-based slots, in full day, full year centers in Fredericktown, Gambier and Mount Vernon, Ohio, with full-day care provided from ten to eleven hours per day, five days per week, 50 weeks per year.

The Child and Adult Care Food program provides support for children's meals for children attending licensed child care centers, including Head Start, Early Head Start and child care classrooms. Knox County Head Start ensures that children participating in all classrooms have access to nutritious meals, including a variety of foods served that introduce children to new food options and offer balanced meals. Meals are served family style to encourage children's healthy development. Children in full day classrooms receive breakfast, lunch and snack. Children served in half day preschool classrooms receive either breakfast and lunch in morning classrooms or lunch and snack in afternoon classrooms. Additionally, KCHS provides information to parents about healthy eating and the importance of exercise and movement as part of both the Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Head Start is a federally funded, comprehensive developmental preschool program for income eligible children ages three to five and their families. Knox County Head Start, Inc. receives grants from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services for the operation of the program. There is no fee to participate in the program. In the 2022-2023 School Year, Knox County Head Start served 201 children in 181 funded Head Start slots. Children served received screenings for health issues, including physicals, lead and hemoglobin screenings, speech, hearing and developmental screenings dental screenings and mental health screenings. Eighty-nine (89) children, or 44% of children served, required follow up medical care, and 84, or 94%, of those children received the needed follow up care. Thirty-five (35) children, or 17% of children served, required follow up dental care, and 29 of those children received the care needed, for a follow up rate of 82.9%. This was the highest dental follow up rate ever recorded, and significantly exceeds the Ohio reported dental follow up rate of 39.81%.

Other program services include the Child Care Program and Corporate Activities. The Child Care program incorporates Head Start Performance Standards into full year/full day care for infants through preschool, with Head Start programming for preschoolers, and Early Head Start programming for infants and toddlers. Child Care services are also provided at one location for school age before and after school care, and full-time school age care during most snow days, school holidays and summer months.