ERIN O'NEILL The Marietta Times Gabriel Binegar, 1, takes a nap on Thursday at the Jane Edwards Head Start Center in Marietta. The Early Head Start program accepts babies and toddlers from 6 weeks to 3 years of age and a typical day consists of music, games, free play, structured learning and naptime. While the Early Head Start program currently has a waiting list, there are still several spots for the preschool program.

Enrollment is down slightly for the local Head Start program but funding is up, due in part to an increase in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposed by the president and ratified by Congress in February.

“We were very surprised by that, especially since other early childhood programs faced cuts,” said Rachel Shipley, director of Head Start & Early Head Start through Washington-Morgan Community Action.

The slight increase of $9.275 billion in 2019 compared to $9.225 in 2017 includes a 2.6 percent cost of living increase.

“That’s actually quite a large increase for us, compared to 1 percent in 2017. It will allow us to increase current employee wages and increase the base wage scale, as well as to offset any increased operating costs,” Shipley explained.

Current federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services total $2,626,218 and an additional reimbursement from the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program is approximately $80,000 per year.

Created in the 1960s, the Head Start program provides grants to local agencies with the aim of delivering comprehensive child development services to young children. Additionally, Head Start targets familial needs by supplying families with essential supports and services. Although the program focuses on the social and educational development of preschoolers, in 1995 it expanded its focus to infants and toddlers with the creation of Early Head Start. The program is free for eligible families that meet 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Enrollment for Head Start locally is down slightly compared to last year at this time. Shipley didn’t have the exact numbers of those who have applied since June 1 at the six locations but last year’s total enrollment was 196 by August.

“I don’t know if families just aren’t thinking about it yet or if, sadly, that many families have moved out of the area,” she said. “We will take applications until we’re full though.”

Morgan County is currently full and Ewing School is almost full, according to Shipley. Approximately 55 percent of the students enrolled last year will be leaving to attend kindergarten this year, so that frees up several spots in Belpre, Marietta and New Matamoras.

Shipley said that she and her staff of 65 are trying to spread the word by attending parades and community events, going door to door, reaching out to area businesses and relying on word of mouth.

“I went to home-based Head Start when I was young,” said William Mitchell, 31, of Malta. “This was before they had the centers. My stepson, Noah Hennen, just graduated in the spring because he will go to kindergarten next year and my son, Lucas, will go the year after next when he turns 3.”

Mitchell said the program is very popular in Morgan County and his stepson was readily prepared to enter kindergarten.

“We don’t have a lot of kids that live out here so the socialization with other kids was great, he learned manners and spelling and he is ready to go to school,” Mitchell said.

The Early Head Start program is also proving to be very popular, with a waitlist in place.

“I wouldn’t worry about the waiting list though, if someone is interested in Early Head Start. I would tell them to go ahead and sign up,” Shipley said.

Early Head Start accepts children from 6 weeks to 3 years old and a full prenatal program offers pregnant women various forms of assistance, including rides to the doctor’s office, tracking development of mom and baby and helping prepare for birth and the years after. Early Head Start is available at the Jane Edwards Head Start Center in Marietta or in the client’s home.

Applications are available at wmcap.org/headstart or by calling 740-373-3745.

Locations

• Belpre Head Start

2014 Rockland Ave., Belpre

740-423-7120

• Play and Learn

320 Main St., Malta

740-962-3792

• The Jane Edwards Head Start Center (also Early Head Start location)

205 Phillips St., Marietta

740-373-6016

• The Washington County Children’s Learning Center – Ewing School

1701 Colegate Drive, Marietta

740-373-3781

• New Matamoras Home Based

501 Main St., New Matamoras

740-865-3814

• Matamoras Early Learning Center

1000 Stover Ave., New Matamoras

740-865-3422