LHDC Announces Head Start Expansion
and Creation of 9 New Jobs
Lincoln Hills Development Corporation (LHDC) Head Start Director, Suzette Zellers, announces that LHDC has received approval to expand its Head Start program services in Harrison and Spencer Counties, Indiana .
With the recent approval of LHDC’s application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ), Administration for Children and Families, LHDC will be able to expand its program by twenty (20) additional children in Harrison County through a home-based program option, and by an additional fifteen (15) children at its South Spencer County Head Start Center, located in Rockport, through a center-based program option. These 35 additional children to be served will raise LHDC’s total Head Start enrollment from 264 to 299 children served throughout the 4-county service area consisting of Crawford, Harrison , Perry and Spencer Counties . The expanded services are targeted to begin in early 2010. “We are excited by this opportunity to expand our program to serve more children and families”, said Zellers. “This expansion represents approximately a 13% expansion in our program’s funded enrollment level, and we are grateful for HHS ’s generous support.”
LHDC Executive Director, Larry K. Kleeman, added, “This expansion was made possible through the awarding of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (stimulus) funds. Not only do these funds allow for the expansion of the Head Start program, they also enable the creation of nine (9) new employment positions. In these tough economic times, that is a significant additional benefit of the program’s approval for expanded services to children and families.”
Kleeman continued, “This expansion of services didn’t just happen; we had to document a need for the additional enrollment slots, plus we submitted a very comprehensive grant application to HHS in June of this year and successfully competed among other Head Start programs throughout the United States to gain approval for this expansion of services. I especially want to compliment our Head Start staff for their hard work in making this a possibility, and our board of directors for supporting our efforts. It took a total ‘team effort’ and I’m proud that HHS recognized LHDC’s outstanding record of providing quality Head Start services for over 44 years.”
Since it began in 1965, nationally Head Start has helped more than 22 million 3 to 5 year old children build the confidence and skills they need to succeed in school and life. Head Start is unique in its comprehensive approach to the needs of children and families; it offers early education, health care, social services, nutrition services, and has a strong focus on parent involvement and support. The program targets children living at or below the federal poverty level, as well as children with disabilities.
For more information about Head Start in Harrison County or Spencer County , contact:
Harrison Head Start Center 1170 Monroe Street Corydon , IN 47112 Phone: (812)738-1711 |
South Spencer County Center 501 Washington St . Rockport , IN 47635 Phone: (812)649-6122 |
or contact LHDC’s Head Start administrative offices at 812-547-3435 , extension 227; or visit LHDC’s website at www.LHDC.org .
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