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WEEK OF THE YOUNG CHILD: HEAD START CELEBRATES SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN WITH
SPECIAL STARS CAMP HOSTED AT SKYLINE RANCH
April 25 and 26, 2012 (Dallas, TX) - More than 400 Head Start of Greater Dallas special needs children and their parents attended the Special Stars Camp at Skyline Ranch to celebrate Week of the Young Child. Along with various activities for children, a panel of special services experts answered parent’s questions and raised awareness of community resources available to these families.
"Much of our community is unaware of Head Start's work with special needs children. We look forward to publicly celebrating with our families the work and progress made by these special young ones during our Special Stars Camp," said CEO Wanda M. Smith.
Ten percent, of the HSGD population is made up of special needs children, many of whom would go without the necessary services without the help of Head Start. The largest needs are for speech therapy, autism services, and those with emotional or behavioral disturbances.
Enrichment services provided by Head Start prepare children to be school-ready in social and emotional areas. Through inter-agency partnerships, special needs children at Head Start are able to receive help more quickly than those waiting for help in public schools. Through mental wellness delivery aka play therapy, the Special Services Parent Fair, the Margaret H. Cone Enrichment Classroom, and intensive staff training, Head Start provides these children and their families the opportunity to be kindergarten ready.
A carnival atmosphere gave children and parents a chance to bond through activities many would not have access to otherwise. A petting zoo, Mommy & Me Yoga, and balloon artists were just some of the camp activities available for the children to experience.
The Special Services Panel of experts included Sherry Bagby-Glover, Supervisor of Child-Find at Dallas ISD and the mental health professionals on staff at Head Start of Greater Dallas.
Donations were given by numerous community businesses including: 97.9 The Beat, Boston Market, Burger King, Care Options, Chili’s, IMAX, Kids Care, Kroger, Neighborhood Credit Union, Olive Garden, Sam’s Club and Starbucks.
About Week of the Young Child
The Week of The Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The purpose of WYOC is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families as well as recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.
About Head Start of Greater Dallas
Head Start of Greater Dallas is a non-profit organization in Dallas that provides children with the foundation of skills and knowledge they need to be successful in school and life and fosters self-reliant families and communities. The agency currently serves over 4,400 children at 45 full-day centers and one home-based center located throughout Dallas County. The agency is dependent on community support for more than $8 million every year. Through partnerships with all Metroplex ISD’s, Kids Care and Care Options 4 Kids, HSGD can better serve the needs of special needs children and their families.
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