West Haven Community House Head Start recently hosted a car seat education and seat distribution event in partnership with the Yale New Haven Hospital Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Program through a ‘Buckle Up For Life’ Grant. More than 60 car seats were distributed to families in the Head Start program.
More than 80 adults and children attended the educational segment, which was presented by Nick Aysseh, Community outreach Educator from Yale’s Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Program. Police officers from Monroe and Fairfield Police Departments, who are certified child passenger safety technicians, attended to assist Yale New Haven Hospital staff with installing the new seats with the families who attended.
In its 40th year at the West Haven Community House, the Head Start program provides comprehensive school readiness services to more than 150 children each year. The program focuses on the social, cognitive, physical and psychological development of preschool children so that they enter kindergarten prepared to learn.
They offer full-day, full-year programs on a sliding scale fee basis for children of parents who are working or going to school. Part-day, part-year classes, which are closely aligned with the public school calendar, is available at no cost. Head Start is licensed by the CT Office of Early Childhood and families must meet the federal income eligibility guidelines to qualify. All children receive health and development screenings, oral and mental health support, as well as healthy meals and snacks.
Parents are engaged in monthly family-based activities and connected with a variety of available services that provide housing stability, continued education, and financial literacy. For more information about the Community House’s Head Start program, please contact 203-934-5221 or visit whcommunityhouse.org.