Departments

Head Start

The Head Start Program was developed in 1965 by parents who believed that no one had a greater interest in the education of a child than their family. This is the foundation of the Head Start Philosophy. Parents are involved at all levels of the program, and are an integral part of decision making in many ways. Parents of current Head Start children participate in the hiring of staff, approval of spending, and changes in curriculum, just to name a few. In addition, federal funds received by Head Start programs are contingent on demonstrated family involvement.

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Child Care Resource and Referral

Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) recruits, trains, and supports Registered/Licensed and Legally Exempt child care providers with all aspects of beginning and maintaining a small business. Quality Improvement Grants are available to Registered/Licensed and Legally Exempt child care providers to improve the quality of the care they are providing through program assessment, training, material and technical support.

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Family Support Services

The Family Support Services Department currentlly operates six programs that support the attainment of family and individual life goals. These programs are the Courthouse Children's Center which provides free child care at Broome County Family Court for any adult who has family court business to attend to; the Kinship Program for any adult who is raising another's child; New Beginnings, an employment support group for formerly incarcerated adults; the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) to assist people applying for foodstamps; the Parent Education and Awarenss Program (PEAP) that provides a NY State certifiec parenting class for any adult involved in a child custody or visitation battle and the Wheels for Work Program to help low income working parents who live in either Broome County or Cortland County, with a vehicle that will help them maintain or obtain employment.

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Special Education Services

Special Education Services provides programming for children with identified disabilities, including speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher services), and integrated programming.

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