Head Start

Alternative Solutions to Head Start Program

There are many alternative solutions to the head start program, but not every one has the economic means to afford them. Well let me start of by explaining exactly what this program is, Head Start is a child development programs which serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. This child-focused program has the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. This is basically what my group is focusing on the head start programs in our local area.

They do not satisfy everyone. Thus, it is my job to look up alternatives to this problem, so many disadvantaged families are having. The problem with this is that most of the alternative mention in the various articles can not be accomplished by low- income families. Most of them are saying for someone to stay at home and take care of the children while the other one works. The problem with this is that low- income families cannot afford for someone to stay at home; they barely make ends meet with two incomes coming in. But these are the same families getting turned away by Head Start. Currently, only about half of eligible preschool-age children can participate in Head Start. In the wake of federal welfare reform, many other families previously eligible for Head Start now earn a few dollars too many to qualify. Their children still need the Head Start experience. Head Start's eligibility guidelines have not been raised since 1965. It is time to boost them ("Modernizing Eligibility section, para. 24"). Head start programs start with children coming from a very low income family who qualify; who will end up with a good foundation that they will probably not get any where else. It helps them realize that they are more then what people think they are, that they can be more then what they

Alternative Solutions 3

came from. I can say this truthfully being a Head Start child myself. Head Start is too valuable a program for almost one million children in the United States who rely on it ("Administration Problems section, para. 1). A head start is needed in every community, but not every one has the funding to provide one; so there has to be alternatives which will be introduce in this essay.

One alternative to the Head Start program is to obtain childcare from an outside family member, like a grandmother. Or to have a community of families who take turns watching each other's children. Some of the strengths to the family member alternative is that the person dealing with your children can be trusted, instead of a stranger. The child will also have a stronger bond with this family member, so their ties may never be broken. Provide an environment that will be positive and stimulating to the child, where