OUR SERVICES
HEAD START - EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SERVICES
Individualized Support
Our philosophy encompasses the belief that children should have experiences in the classroom community which allows each child to explore the environment and utilize his/her individual abilities. Child-centered is the approach we take to learning and development to ensure experiences are individualized and responsive to each child's cues and desires to learn. Teachers strive to nurture a peaceful environment which encourages each child to think independently and creatively, so that later in life they will be wise decision makers. Teachers support children emotionally, model and engage in socially appropriate behavior including rich language exchanges. Relationships and experiences with trusted staff are the basis for all learning. We create safe, interesting, and intimate settings in which children have time and opportunity to establish and sustain long-term, secure, and trusting relationships.
HEAD START - FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Empowering Families as Advocates
Partnerships with parents are a vital aspect of our philosophy at West Harlem Head Start. We believe that the home is the most important factor in a child's development. We will always strive to support and complement the family in order to promote the healthy development of children and parents. With our direct support, parents learn to be effective advocates for their child throughout their entire school experience. Parents are a part of a team that includes teachers, support staff, and a network of other community providers to strengthen the connection between home and school with the objective of including the parent in every aspect of the education program to improve student outcomes. We involve parents/guardians in educational activities of our program to enhance their role as the principal influence on the child's education and development.
FAMILY CHILD CARE NETWORK
A Nurturing Foundation
The Family Child Care (FCC) Network is contracted by the NYC Department of Education and provides a family care program for children who are 6 weeks to 3 years of age that is based upon developmentally appropriate practices which are aligned with the individual cognitive, social, emotional , and physical needs of the children. FCC providers are independent contractors providing services in their homes and licensed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
The approach we take to learning is child-centered in order to ensure that educational services are individualized and responsive to each child's cues and desires to learn . FCC providers support children emotionally and model and engage in socially appropriate behavior including language-rich exchanges. For younger children , relationships and experiences with trusted staff are the basis for all learning. West Harlem's Family Child Care settings create safe and engaging environments in which children have time and opportunity to establish and sustain long-term , secure, and trusting relationships.