October is National Head Start Awareness Month. WACOG provides Head Start services for 1,070 at-risk children and their families each day. The program approaches success through school readiness, health and nutrition, mental health, social and emotional development, and comprehensive social services for families.

There are 11 Head Start centers in Mohave County from Lake Havasu to Bullhead City to Kingman providing quality early learning and education for children ages 1-4 years of age. Delicious meals are served daily that introduce children to new foods and provide high quality nutrition.

Head Start serves Mohave County families with the highest needs, prioritizing those living in poverty, homeless families, foster children, and children with disabilities. Children in Head Start programs are more likely to read proficiently at 3rd grade, graduate from high school, attend college, and have successful jobs than their peers who do not have access to Head Start.

Head Start is a federally funded program with local program controls. Parents play a critical role in determining program operations each year. Our parent Policy Council meets next Wednesday at 9:30 for a regular monthly meeting. The October meeting also includes thanking our 2018-19 Policy Council parents and seating our 2019-20 Policy Council members. Parents who participate in the Policy Council learn about governance, policy, advocating, budgeting, and program oversight. We are amazed this year at the incredible group of parents participating and the wonderful things they have done for the WACOG Head Start program.

We invite you to meet these amazing parents, visit our Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms, sample some delicious Head Start food prepared by our dedicated cooks, hear about Head Start success stories from local families, and see what quality early education looks like in Mohave County. I can be reached for more information at 928 217-7146.