WACOG Head Start Program Information

WACOG Head Start provides children and families a multitude of opportunities to participate in a broad range of individualized services within the program's content areas of: Child Development Special Education Health Services (medical, dental, mental health & nutrition) and parent/family development Additionally, program staff and administration ensures the range of services is responsive and appropriate to each child and family's ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage and experiences.

WACOG Head Start has a long tradition of delivering comprehensive quality services designed to foster the healthy development of children.

The program has 20 NAEYC-accredited centers within a tri-county service area. The accreditation process allows Head Start to maintain high quality and remain on the "cutting edge" of developmentally appropriate practices.

Central program administration is located in Yuma, Arizona with additional administrative staff located in Kingman, Arizona. The central office houses the Head Start Director, Program Specialist, Content Area Specialists for Child Development, Disabilities, Family Development, Health Services and the Area Manager for Yuma and La Paz Counties.

The Program Manager and Mohave County Area Manager are housed in Kingman.

Each area office has secretarial support staff and each Head Start center has an assigned Site Manager and at least one Family Development Advocate.

The challenge of providing comprehensive child and family services in non-served or under-served rural communities is daunting. The program has been the forerunner in establishing the first child and family development programs in many of the tri-county communities. WACOG Head Start, in concert with Agency administration and community leaders, has established child/family centered programs designed to provide services meeting children's needs and to offer opportunities to adults that lead to family involvement, improved literacy skills, job training skills and individual community economic development.

The primary focus of WACOG Head Start is children and their families. The program's mission is to provide the foundation for the development of self-sufficient, healthy, caring and productive children and families by establishing an environment of achievement. The success of this work ultimately rests on the enhancement of the sense of dignity and self-worth within each child and family participating in our program; and is dependent upon the mutual respect of the unique qualities of individual abilities, cultures, languages, traditions, personalities and the sense of commitment brought to the classroom and home by parents, children and staff.

WACOG Head Start works in close partnership with parents to foster their role as the primary educators and advocates for their children. Parents are encouraged to become involved in all aspects of the program, from participation in children's activities to direct involvement in policy and program decisions.