By Kim Larkins
“It takes a village to raise a child.” Maine needs to consider the importance of this African proverb when we consider the overall well-being of our children. The 126th Legislature is considering LD 1682, An Act to Preserve Head Start and Child Care Services, sponsored by Rep. Aaron Frey, D-Bangor. My question is, “what is to consider?” As a society we are obligated to invest in our children to become healthy productive citizens. An investment in our most precious resource, our children, is an enormous investment in our future.
Head Start was launched in 1965 as a result of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s declaration on the War on Poverty. Since its inception, the program has served over 30 million disadvantaged pre-school children and proven that giving children a “head start” on their education is beneficial to their continued academic success and the overall well-being of their families. A primarily federally funded program, Head Start has historically underserved the total population of the deserving children in need. Wait lists are extensive and there are many children that do not get the tremendous benefits of a program that stimulates children during the period when the majority of their brain develops. During this crucial period of brain development, it is imperative that children experience positive interactions with their family and care providers to foster healthy child development.
Head Start promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to 5 from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. Head Start has a requirement to prioritize services to children with disabilities to address their needs at an early age, allowing them the best opportunity to overcome barriers to their learning. Comprehensive services are provided to pregnant women and children including physical, dental, mental health and nutrition in either a home-based or center-based setting. Parents learn the importance of building strong attachments to their children that are so critical to the healthy emotional development impacting a child’s ability to manage stress, form healthy relationships and experience a higher self-worth leading to a life of fulfillment and balance.
Head Start emphasizes the role of the parents as their child’s first teacher and the importance of the overall health and well-being of each member of the enrolled child’s family. Social services are provided to the entire family to meet their specific needs and provide opportunities for growth and development in all areas of their lives. Parents are encouraged to continue their own education and skills development to better provide for their families. With the support of the family services component of the Head Start program, not only are the children rapidly progressing, but the parents are supported to “reach for the stars” and make changes they never dreamed were possible to strengthen their lives and begin to escape the devastating effects of living in poverty.
Classroom involvement is highly recommended for parents to learn, at their child’s very young age that they have a voice in their child’s education and program development. Young parents are empowered to become advocates, decision-makers and productive community members through the support of the Head Start program.
Resources are limited and as a result of receiving these federal funds, communities have a responsibility to supplement the program through volunteer hours and other donations to the grantees implementing Head Start. State resources are also a valuable addition to programs in order to support quality programming, highly skilled teachers and serve additional children and families. Head Start has made many positive changes over the years to increase the quality of programming based on ongoing research, but with the ever increasing budget cuts and attempts to stretch dollars, meeting the needs are a constant challenge.
So ask yourself, “How are the children?” Are we providing the best opportunity for a productive future? Can we afford to neglect the needs of our most vulnerable population? Investment in our youngest children results in long-term benefits to our “village” such as community leadership, reduced crime rates, and educated, physically and mentally healthy human beings.
Support LD 1682 to keep Maine in the forefront of the evidenced based research validating the importance of early education to our young citizens.
Kim Larkins of Monticello is a licensed social worker (State of Maine) working in the field of social work since the 1980s.
