Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation that serves as the administrative entity for child and family development programs including Head Start, Early Head Start, Maternal, Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV), Pre-K Counts, Opioid Use / Substance Use Disorder (OUD/SUD) program, the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP), and Parents as Teachers (PAT). Although each of these programs may differ in some respects, each has our fundamental mission at its core which is to provide comprehensive services to children and families.
To operate these programs effectively our agency has established and maintains effective partnerships with other community organizations, child care providers and school districts. Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. believes we are to be an integral part of our community where many agencies and service providers work together to identify needs, remove barriers and maximize our resources collectively to meet the needs of children and families.
All of Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc.’s programs have a fundamental mission to provide comprehensive services to children and families; read more about each below.
Head Start is a federally-funded, high quality child and family development program that promotes the school readiness of low-income children 3-5 years of age by enhancing their cognitive, social, & emotional development in learning environments that support children’s growth in language, literacy, math, science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts, physical skills, and approaches to learning.
Early Head Start is designed to provide high quality child and family development services to low-income expectant mothers and families with infants and toddlers. Services are provided year-round, at no cost, to meet the health, educational, developmental, and social needs of children and families.
The Jefferson-Clarion Pre-K Counts program is a high-quality pre-kindergarten education program for three and four-year-olds funded by the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning. Children participate in classes five days a week and attend a total of 180 classroom days each year.
Parents as Teachers builds strong communities, thriving families and children who are healthy, safe and ready to learn by matching parents and caregivers with trained professionals who make regular personal home visits during a child’s earliest years in life, from prenatal through kindergarten.
Vision Statement
Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. will continue to be a role model to other organizations in the provision of services to children and families. We will be a community leader in establishing and maintaining effective collaborations. We will strive to continually improve our program while identifying and responding to the changing needs of our communities.
Mission Statement
Jefferson-Clarion Head Start, Inc. is dedicated to providing comprehensive education and health services to income eligible children to ensure they will be healthier and better prepared for success in school and life. We seek to promote family self-sufficiency by providing educational opportunities to parents and establishing family partnerships designed to build upon the strengths of each family. We are committed to collaborating effectively with schools, child care providers, and other social service agencies while being responsive to the changing needs of our communities.
