New Agencies Chosen for Valley Head Start Schools

Washington, D.C. - The Child Care Resource Center has been awarded a $5 million federal grant to provide Head Start services to 700 children and their families in the San Fernando Valley, Congressman Brad Sherman announced Monday.

Another $5.5 million will go to Volunteers of America for Head Start programs in the East Valley and elsewhere.

In the West Valley, Child Care Resource Center will expand to serve about 500 children in Chatsworth, Canoga Park, North Hills, Reseda, Granada Hills, and Northridge. It also will serve some Head Start students in Pacoima. The center already provides Head Start services to about 500 children and their families under the Los Angeles County Office of Education at schools in Van Nuys, Sherman Oaks, Encino, and Tarzana.

The Volunteers of America program will cover about 700 children and their families in Castaic, Newhall, Sylmar, San Fernando and Pacoima.

œHead Start has been helping preschool children and their families for more than forty years, Sherman said. œChildren and their families in the Valley deserve the quality services that have made Head Start a success story.

œThe Child Care Resource Center looks forward with great anticipation to extending the quality Head Start services we have provided to families for the past 12 years, said Stacy Miller, the centers vice president.

Under the expanded program, the centers staff will concentrate on providing education, health, mental health, nutrition and other services to Head Start families. Classes will be in operation 4 to 5 days a week with children attending 3.5 hours each day.

Parents will be encouraged to assist with all aspects of the program and to provide input with the planning, assessment and development. Head Start is unique in that parents have such an active role in their childs school program by attending parent workshops and serving as classroom volunteers.