The refunding application, submitted to the Department of Health and Human Services in Atlanta, Ga., includes funding of just over $2 million in program operating expenses, with an additional $28,798 to be used for training and technical assistance. That brings the total amount of funding to $2,120,667.
In addition to submitting the refunding application, a Head Start community assessment was also completed at the beginning of this year, providing current information pertaining to the number of children in the county, and the community resources and services available to them. The assessment, conducted with help from various local, state and federal departments and agencies, was able to show what issues are being adequately addressed and where there is still work to be done.
The Sampson County Head Start program is a county-run, federally-funded program directed to assist low-income families. Head Start has worked for more than 30 years to benefit the lives of young students and their families through comprehensive child development programs, parent involvement and community partnerships and community-based services.
The program offers services to 345 children and their families between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at eight centers across Sampson County.
The Clinton Head Start Center has a total of 159 children enrolled, while the Roseboro and Garland Head Start centers each serve 53 children. Additionally, Hargrove, Hobbton, Midway, Dogwood and Harrells Head Start facilities are able to serve approximately 18 children each. Future expansion in Plain View and Clement school districts, where there is a “great need for services,” has been discussed.
While the local Head Start currently serves 345 children, there are still another 370 waiting to be served (see box).
According to Head Start officials, recruitment efforts will continue to target areas for future expansion. To that end, Head Start will participate in community events and health fairs, as well as post advertisement posters and flyers in English and Spanish. There will also be some door-to-door recruitment.
Information displays will be set up in the Department of Social Services, the Health Department and all area doctor officers in an effort to reach all families. Agencies such as Hope in the Carolinas, U Care, Sampson County Crisis Center and HOPE will also be included in the recruitment process along with other local agencies.
Accompanying the waiting list for Head Start services, the recruitment for eligible children and families continues, Head Start director Lacy Bell Jr. said.
According to Head Start’s community assessment, approximately one out of four children in Sampson County 0-5 years old (24 percent) live in poverty. That means roughly 2,000 in Sampson. Sampson County Head Start is funded to serve 345 of those children, the majority of whom are minorities (Hispanics, African-American, immigrants and women) who live in the Garland, Harrells and Hobbton areas.
However, some families are likely unable to access specialized services to address medical, health and nutritional needs of Head Start eligible children due mainly to lack of transportation services, the Head Start’s assessment explained.
Sampson County also continues to face the challenges for providing services for a growing number of Latino families that move into the area each year.
The U.S. Census Bureau recorded the total Sampson County population for 2008 at 63,927, a growth of 6.3 percent since 2000. The growth in the Hispanic population grew similarly, from 10.8 percent of the total population in 2000 to 15.7 percent in 2008.
Bilingual translators are limited in the area of education, many having less than a high school diploma. Families who have their children enrolled in Head Start and public school are finding problems with placing younger siblings when they attempt to go into the job market.
Sampson County Head Start, in conjunction with Sampson Community College, plans to assist bilingual parents enroll in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, the community assessment states.
According to the N.C. Division of Child Development, there are 75 child care facilities in Sampson County (39 child care and 36 family day care homes). Head Start officials said that recently, many facilities in the county have stopped serving infants, making it difficult for families with small children.
As of Feb. 1, 900 children in Sampson County were receiving child care assistance, with 22 currently on the waiting list. With many more on the Head Start waiting list, the local agency continues to look for ways — and funding — to serve as many as possible.
Sampson County Head Start is currently partnering with the state’s pre-K program (Partnership for Children’s More at Four program) to enroll 172 of its 416 More at Four children and is seeking to continue that partnership to possibly receive $473,000 in funding to extend the number of school days for children and teachers, Bell stated.
The partnership is expected to not only extend the number of days for children and families, but also provide more equipment and supplies for the program, Bell said.
The focus of Head Start will be on the youngest children, so they will not be overlooked in 2010-11.
“After reviewing data collected from surveys completed by families in Sampson County, it has been defined that there is a great need for child care for children ages 0-3 years old,” the Head Start’s community assessment stated. “It is the most recent goal of Sampson County Head Start to move toward serving this age group of children.”
Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.
Sampson County Head Start
The county-run, federally-funded program directed at serving young children and low-income families currently serves 345 children, but there are approximately 370 on the waiting list, including a high representation from a booming Latino population. The demographics of the waiting list, based on race, are:
Hispanic: 170
Black: 110
White: 60
Other: 30
* Source: Sampson County
Head Start Community Assessment 2010-11
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