| Chapel Hill Training-Outreach Project, Inc. has been funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, to establish an Early Head Start program for 100 low-income families with children age birth to three in Orange County, North Carolina. The program will also serve pregnant women who qualify. In order to qualify, family income must meet the federal guidelines for poverty. |
 |
| Services | The program is designed to provide an array of services that are tailored to fit
the strengths and needs of each family. Services provided will include
|
| Program Model | Each family will be given the opportunity to develop their own personal goals and
objectives. Early Head Start staff will help the family formulate a realistic plan to
accomplish their goals and then assist the family in achieving them. Families will also be
encouraged to take an active role in the planning and implementation of the EHS program.
The EHS Policy Council will be composed of 51% parents and 49% community representatives. The program will demonstrate a fully collaborative model that will utilize all appropriate resources in the community. We will begin with a mission to maximize existing resources by severely limiting the unnecessary duplication of services. While the program will maintain an independent identity, it will function as a collaborative community partner in a county system that has already achieved a high degree of collaboration through the Orange County Partnership for Young Children (OCPYC) which serves as the Smart Start agency in Orange County. Child development resources in Orange County will be enhanced, and strengthened with the contracted purchase of care from AA licensed providers who agree to
Health services will be provided through the Orange County Health Department, Piedmont Health and other area providers. Family development services will be provided in partnership with an existing, county-wide system of family service coordination that includes access to all relevant resources for developing family self-sufficiency, improving health, and enhancing parenting skills. |
| Day Care | For families wanting day care for their young children, the Early Head Start
program will pay contracted day care providers for half-day slots at market rates. For
families who also qualify for subsidized care beyond half-day care, this extended day care
will be provided through the Orange County subsidy program. Early Head Start families will
be required to pay the parent fee for only the care paid for by the subsidy program. They
will not be required to pay any fees for the day care provided with EHS funds. For EHS families who do not qualify for extended, subsidized care, day care providers will have the option to provide half-day, 5-day slots or to split slots so that two children can share a single full-day, 5-day slot. (e.g., Tommy attends on Mondays, Wednesdays, and alternate Fridays, while Shanika attends on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and alternate Fridays.) During the start-up year, funds are available to assist contracted day care providers in upgrading facilities and equipment. |
| Start-up Timeline | The program will begin providing services to a limited number of families as early as August, 1998. The number of EHS families will increase gradually until May 1, 1999 when all 100 children will be enrolled. |
| Contact | Angela
Wilcox, (919) 490-5577 ext. 233 awilcox@intrex.net Chapel Hill Training-Outreach Project, Inc. 800 Eastowne Dr. Chapel Hill, NC 27514 |
|
|
 |