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The East Baton Rouge Parish Head Start Program has a unique funding
stream designated for the construction of Head Start Centers which consists
of Community Development Funds and City Parish Government General
Funds. To date, five centers have been completed. Plans for
construction of the sixth commence within the year 2003. The average
cost of a Head Start center is approximately $1.5 million.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Head Start Program entered into a
collaborative partnership with Southern University A & M College for
the operation of a site-based Head Start Center. The Southern
University Head Start Center serves 55 children of faculty, staff, and
students of Southern University and the neighboring communities.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Head Start Program realize
that grandparents are being called upon more and more to raise their
grandchildren. There are various reasons that grandparents are now having to be parents for the second time
around. Recognizing the fact that these care giving grandparents need
assistance in various ways, the “Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising
Children Support Group” was organized in the East Baton Rouge Parish Head
Start Program in February 2002. This group meets on the third Friday
of each month. Consultants and community resource people talk to
these caregivers at each session to give them information on how they can
obtain assistance in meeting some of the needs and concerns that they have
identified (ex. legal assistance, medical assistance, advocacy services,
etc.) These sessions also serve as a support group where the
grandparents can talk and share with others that have the same or similar
responsibilities.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Head Start Program and the East Baton Rouge
Parish Library System are excited about the partnership agreement signed by
both parties. There have been many benefits in strengthening children
and families. Research shows that at-risk children begin school with
a big strike against them–not enough early exposure to books. We are
proud to be able to help erase this strike and make a big plus for our
children by increasing their exposure to books and the library. Head
Start children have monthly field trips to the library in their area.
During their visits they are involved in story time. Our program
involves local librarians in Head Start center’s parent meetings and staff
training sessions. The East Baton Rouge Parish Library is also
encouraging children and their parents to come to the library, both to
check out books and to take advantage of free educational and self-help
programs.
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