Job Openings

Internal Posting:

Classroom Support Aide in Punxsutawney – The Classroom Aide assists in providing developmentally appropriate educational activities by helping to provide individual attention, instruction, and supervision for the children in the classroom, preparation of material and activities, preparation and serving of meals, and assume responsibility for clean-up activities.

Hours - Part-time: 4 hrs/day – 4/day wk.

Entry Level Salary -$7.73/hr

Qualifications – Must have a high school diploma or GED.  And experience working with pre-school age children. All applicants must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid PA driver’s license, have or obtain Act, 34, 151 & 114 clearances.  Submit a resume to Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc., 18 Western Ave. Suite C, Brookville, PA  15825 by Friday, September 3, 2010.  EOE

Now Accepting 2010-2011 H.S. Applications

Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. is now accepting applications for the 2010-2011 school year.

To download our application please click here.

Please fill this application out and return it to the address listed below. We will redistribute the application to the appropriate centers.

Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc.
18 Western Ave.
Suite C
Brookville, PA 15825

If you have any questions feel frree to call us at: (814)849-3660 or via E-Mail at: info@jcheadstart.com

Early Head Start Services Now Available

Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. is pleased to announce that they have obtained nearly $2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) funds to expand services to 84 families in Jefferson and Clarion Counties to include infants and toddlers, Birth to Age 3 and Pregnant Women, through Early Head Start.  Steve Berfield, Executive Director of Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. states that Early Head Start services are desperately needed by families in our area and that they will serve to complement the other programs we currently administer.  Additionally, this new program will provide 12 new staff positions.

Quality services, like Head Start, have been the keystone for Early Head Start across its history since 1995.  Many of the same things exist within Early Head Start, such as an emphasis on high quality, promoting healthy development of children, positive relationships, parent involvement, inclusion of children with disabilities, and transition planning.  Early Head Start will provide free comprehensive child and family development services for low-income families operating year round. 

The program includes intensive services that begin before the child is born and concentrate on enhancing the child’s development and supporting the family during the critical first three years of the child’s life.  Extensive research has shown that quality services, such as Early Head Start and Head Start provided to young children and their families has a positive impact on the child’s development and strengthens the family.

Home based services utilizing an age appropriate infant/toddler curriculum will be provided once per week to support child development and to nurture parent-child relationships.  Planned, well designed socialization opportunities will exist twice per month for parents and children to come together as a group for learning, discussion, and social activity.  Early Head Start will provide supports to expectant families through partnerships offering services in comprehensive prenatal and postpartum health care, prenatal education, and breastfeeding education.

Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. is excited about this opportunity to expand services to children and families in the bi-county area.  Anyone wishing to obtain more information about Early Head Start can call the main office at 814-849-3660 or toll free at 800-628-6150.

Click Here to download the application.

Reading leaders promote literacy at recent event

Written by Larry McGuire

Friday, 10 April 2009

Rep. Sam Smith, house minority leader, read the story “If You Were A Penguin” to Head Start students last past week. (Photo by Larry McGuire/The Punxsutawney Spirit) BROOKVILLE — Celebrity readers are participating in the “One Book Every Young Child” program at area Head Start Inc. facilities. Rep. Sam Smith, house minority leader, and Jefferson County Commission Chairman Paul Corbin read the story “If You Were A Penguin” to the students this past week. Tracy Weaver, of Community Action Inc., coordinator of the program, said this is a statewide literacy program developed in Pennsylvania four years ago. “Each year, they choose a certain book, and they have it read throughout preschool, Head Start Inc. and child-related programs throughout the state,” she said. “In Jefferson County, we’ll have 20 different readings, which includes Headstart, Pre-K Counts and private pre-schools.” Weaver said the Week of the Young Child is a national initiative through the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and will be coming up the week of April 20. “In Pennsylvania, we do it throughout the month,” she said. “April is also Child Abuse Awareness Month, and there are all sorts of programs that are promoted throughout the month of April. We work with the literacy part of the program.” “If You Were a Penguin,” a picture book by author and illustrator Wendell and Florence Minor for children ages three to six, is Pennsylvania’s “One Book, Every Young Child” 2009 selection. To read the entire article click here.

Head Start celebrates ‘Week of the Young Child’

Written by Larry McGuire

Friday, 24 April 2009

Nikki Painter (far left), family service worker at Head Start IV located at the Pine Street Senior Center in Punxsy, is working in the greenhouse with Joselyn (far right) and Jananne during an open house to celebrate Week of the Young Child. Jan Peffer is the teacher at Head Start IV. (Photo by Larry McGuire/The Punxsutawney Spirit) BROOKVILLE — Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Inc. celebrated “Week of the Young Child” by holding open houses at its various locations throughout the area. Steve Berfield, executive director of Head Start, said the purpose of the week is to inform the public about early childhood programs, and to recognize the importance and benefits of early intervention. The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families, and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs. “Additionally, it is time to draw attention to the needs of young children and their families and plan how to better care for all young children,” Berfield said. Jefferson-Clarion Head Start Inc. operates pre-school and family development programs that serve children three to five years of age. Berfield said Head Start will serve more than 500 children in Jefferson and Clarion Counties this year through Head Start and the Pre-K Counts program. Berfield said Head Start’s annual report describes its different programs, which include Head Start, Even Start, Family Literacy program and Pre-K Counts. To read the entire article, click here.