Lincoln County Head Start

Head Start is a federal program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled low-income children and families.  In addition, services are also provided to meet the special needs of children with disabilities.

The Lincoln County Head Start (LCHS) program is operated by the Region IX Education Cooperative and supported by local public schools.

Three of Lincoln County Head Start four sites are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young children (NAEYC).  Staff participates in on-going professional development and a variety of training opportunities in order to educate and enhance their professional skills and abilities.

Early Childhood Development and Health

Head Start's commitment to wellness embraces a comprehensive vision of health for children, families, and staff. The objective of Child Health and Development Services is to ensure that, through collaboration among families, staff, and health professionals, all child health and developmental concerns are identified, and children and families are linked to an ongoing source of continuous, accessible care to meet their basic health needs.

The objective of Education and Early Childhood Development is to provide all children with a safe, nurturing, engaging, enjoyable, and secure learning environment, in order to help them gain the awareness, skills, and confidence necessary to succeed in their present environment, and to deal with later responsibilities in school and in life. Each child is treated as an individual in an inclusive community that values, respects, and responds to diversity. The varied experiences provided by the program support the continuum of children's growth and development, which includes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of each child.

Family and Community Partnerships

Head Start offers parents opportunities and support for growth, so that they can identify their own strengths, needs and interests, and find their own solutions. The objective of Family Partnerships is to support parents as they identify and meet their own goals, nurture the development of their children in the context of their family and culture, and advocate for communities that are supportive of children and families of all cultures. The building of trusting, collaborative relationships between parents and staff allows them to share with and to learn from one another.

Head Start serves families within the context of the community, and recognizes that many other agencies and groups work with the same families. The objective of Community Partnerships is to ensure that there is collaboration with partners in the community, in order to provide the highest level of services to children and families, to foster the development of a continuum of family centered services, and to advocate for a community that shares responsibility for the healthy development of children and families of all cultures.

Fatherhood Initiative

The Fatherhood Initiative is intended to strengthen the role of fathers in families. Strong families are essential to the future of the nation; both mothers and fathers play an essential role in ensuring the well-being of their children. Changes in the lives of fathers must be supported by the communities in which they live, and communities must know what resources and support are available to help in this effort.  The LCHS Fatherhood Committee plans a variety of activities throughout the year to enhance father and male involvement in the program.

Services for Children with Disabilities

Lincoln County Head Start provides comprehensive services to children with disabilities and develops Individual Educational Plans (IEP) for each child.  The IEP is developed collaboratively among professionals and parents and is designed to guide a developmentally appropriate program for each child with a disability.  IEP services include necessary modifications for curriculum and materials; related services such as speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling, and social work services; and other instructional supports needed for the children to succeed. LCHS collaborates with the local public schools to provide inclusive settings for children with disabilities in a neutral  environment.  A "natural environment" provides opportunity of interactions among children with disabilities and those without disabilities.

How to Enroll

The LCHS office is located at Nob Hill Early Childhood Center, 103 Sutton, Ruidoso, New Mexico.  The staff will provide interested families with an application and an instruction sheet that lists the documents needed to determine if a family is eligible for the program. To qualify, families must meet certain federal poverty guidelines, live within Lincoln County, and the applying children must be 3 or 4 years old by September 1st.  Applications are available at all sites and at the annual Child Find screening process. Documents needed to determine eligibility are the child's birth certificate, immunization record, insurance care if applicable, and the 12 months of family income.