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The family resource center is designed to help families within the community that helps with trauma-related and mental health-related concerns. The person to contact is Denis Haines the operations supervisor

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Early head start provides services that help with social skills. The person to contact for Early Head Start is your ECSE Teacher or Crystal Bittendender the program operations specialist.

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Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development.

How to Apply

Find answers to your questions about the steps to enroll your child in a Head Start program.

Locations

Find information and addresses for Head Start sites at locations throughout Merced County.

Referrals

Please use the referral form for any child being referred to Head Start/Early Head Start

About Head Start Program

Head Start staff members have expertise in early childhood development, social services, health, parent education, nutrition and other diverse disciplines. In partnership with parents and the community, we facilitate school readiness for children and empower parents. We strive to be leaders in child and family development by delivering the highest quality, comprehensive, seamless services, based on community needs.

The Head Start Program provides a comprehensive child development program to children 0-5 years old from income eligible families and children with exceptional needs to prepare them intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically for school and life. Head Start serves preschool aged children and their families. Early Head Start serves infants, toddlers, and a limited number of pregnant women. Our Centers

Every child is provided with the highest quality child development program. Every enrolled child also receives the following benefits and services

Assistance obtaining a physical examination and necessary follow-up

Assistance obtaining a dental examination and necessary treatment

Hearing and vision screening and follow-up

Developmental skills screening and individualized educational program

Supplemental daily nutrition

With health equity at the center, Head Start provides services that promote health, wellness, and safety for children and families. Through health promotion, prevention, early identification, and intervention activities, Head Start assists children and families in developing a foundation for lifelong health and wellness.

Health promotion helps to improve overall health and health outcomes.

Prevention reduces the likelihood of getting sick or injured.

Early identification detects conditions that may negatively affect healthy development.

Intervention is the delivery of services to treat health conditions that will improve health and learning outcomes.

Head Start implements a variety of strategies that focus on preventive health care, physical and oral health, immunizations, injury prevention, and ongoing care and treatment to support children's healthy growth, development, and early learning success. School readiness begins with health.

Family engagement is a collaborative and strengths-based process through which early childhood professionals, families, and children build positive and goal-oriented relationships. It is a shared responsibility of families and staff at all levels that requires mutual respect for the roles and strengths each has to offer. Family engagement focuses on culturally and linguistically responsive relationship-building with key family members in a child's life. It requires making a commitment to creating and sustaining an ongoing partnership that supports family well-being. It also honors and supports the parent-child relationships that are central to a child's healthy development, school readiness, and well-being. The Family Services staff work with families to build, connect and encourage families on such goals as parents' educational advancement, economic mobility, healthy living and other aspects of family well-being.

The collaboration between early childhood staff, families, and community agencies builds positive relationships. These relationships support parents' progress toward their goals for themselves and their children. Community partners provide culturally and linguistically responsive services and helpful resources.

Another important part of the program is parent education. A wide variety of training and educational opportunities are available for parents. Training topics are provided to meet the needs of families and include such subjects as nutrition, first aid, parenting and self-sufficiency skills.

Children with disabilities and other unique needs receive a full range of Head Start services in addition to special education through partial and full inclusion models in the most natural setting.

All children are welcome and fully included into all aspects of the Head Start program's range of services and supports. The program has strong collaborative relationships with special education services within the county and work collaboratively to support access and participation to children of all abilities.

Each year more than 1,157 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are enrolled in one of four service options: part-day preschool (3.5 hours, school day preschool (6.5 hours), full-day programs (10 hours), family child care and home-based services and in partnerships with childcare centers. Up to ten enrollment spaces are available to pregnant women.

The Head Start program recognizes the importance of healthy mental wellness and through a contract with a local mental health agency, expert counseling and support is available to all children and families/caregivers within the program. Healthy social emotional development is a priority of the program with the implementation of social skills instruction and practice, and an overall positive approach to building confident and socially competent children ready to learn!

The Resource guide is updated annually. Updates can be submitted here

The English Resource guide for 23/24 is available here. This is a printable version only.

The Spanish Resource guide for 23/24 is available here. This is a printable version only.
PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS: To print as a booklet - print double sided, flip on short edge

Program Operations Specialist
(209) 381-5170 Ext. 6903

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Head Start - Merced County Office of Education

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Head Start - Merced County Office of Education

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Library | Merced County, CA - Official Website

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FINDING INSPIRATION IN EVERY CHILD

Welcome to Play Adventu res - a unique Merced school and child care facility that offers o utdoor, play-based, experiential and early chil dhood education.

PROGRAMS WE OFFER PARENTS:

Naomi Sukenik
Founder & CEO

Naomi founded Play Adventures with the idea that every child deserves a safe place to play and to lead their play without instruction. We showed up at parks, and kids found us playing with weird, found and recycled items and their imaginations ran wild when they began to create. Covid hit our community and we turned into a Large home child care, while community events dwindled. This past year alone we ran a Forest Preschool, an Afterschool, a 'my grownup and me' program for toddlers and young children, and held workshops for our families. Now that we are more safe against Covid, we are excited to begin community outreach, Pop Up Play Days and other wonderful events to look forward to!

We believe there should be a space and time in a child's play dedicated to outdoor, self- directed play, Where the adults are mostly out of sight and out of mind.

​

The four tenets that guide Play Adventures Clubhouse Programs:

like: sustainability, conservation, reusing, and recycling.

of others is crucial accepting those different from us. Being kind no matter how our thoughts, opinions and beliefs differ.

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PlayAdventures provides an outdoor play based, child-directed, outdoors experiential environment for ALL children! Preschool, afterschool, camps available. Financial Assistance available

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Caring Kids provides healthy social and emotional developmental services for children ages 0-5. The person to contact is Monica Adrian.

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Project Manager/Behavior Support Specialist
Phone: (209) 381-6738
Address: 1850 Wardrobe Avenue, Merced, CA 95341
Fax: (209) 381-6758​
Promoting Healthy Social and Emotional Development
The Caring Kids program provides resources and services to children ages 0 to 5 and their families to help support healthy and optimal child development. The program helps children learn self-regulation and social skills. It teaches parents and caregivers the best ways to help children develop socially and emotionally. These services help build protective factors and reduce challenging behaviors which will increase the chances of children being successful in school.

Services:

a) inclusive social skills building playgroup

b) classes for parents

For more information please click Caring Kids resources - Google Drive

Parents are their children's first teachers.

The Parents as Teachers Evidence-Based Home Visiting Model is a comprehensive home-visiting, parent education model used by Parents as Teachers Affiliates. The model provides services to families with children from prenatal through kindergarten.

Why should your family participate?

*Increase parent knowledge of early childhood development and improve parent practices

*Provide early detection of developmental delays and health issues

*Prevent child abuse and neglect

*Increase children's school readiness and success

To enroll please complete this interest form:

or contact:

Monica Adrian
madrian@mcoe.org
(209) 381-6738

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Caring Kids - Merced County Office of Education

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Caring Kids - Merced County Office of Education

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Families Helping Families is our commitment

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Health Resources - Merced County Office of Education

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Health Resources - Merced County Office of Education

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Family Resource Center - Merced County Office of Education

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Family Resource Center - Merced County Office of Education

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Head Start also provides mental health services and is in contract with the local mental health agency, expert counseling, and support. This is available to all students and family/caregivers within the program.

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Head Start is a Federal program that promotes the school readiness of children from birth to age five from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development.

How to Apply

Find answers to your questions about the steps to enroll your child in a Head Start program.

Locations

Find information and addresses for Head Start sites at locations throughout Merced County.

Referrals

Please use the referral form for any child being referred to Head Start/Early Head Start

About Head Start Program

Head Start staff members have expertise in early childhood development, social services, health, parent education, nutrition and other diverse disciplines. In partnership with parents and the community, we facilitate school readiness for children and empower parents. We strive to be leaders in child and family development by delivering the highest quality, comprehensive, seamless services, based on community needs.

The Head Start Program provides a comprehensive child development program to children 0-5 years old from income eligible families and children with exceptional needs to prepare them intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically for school and life. Head Start serves preschool aged children and their families. Early Head Start serves infants, toddlers, and a limited number of pregnant women. Our Centers

Every child is provided with the highest quality child development program. Every enrolled child also receives the following benefits and services

Assistance obtaining a physical examination and necessary follow-up

Assistance obtaining a dental examination and necessary treatment

Hearing and vision screening and follow-up

Developmental skills screening and individualized educational program

Supplemental daily nutrition

With health equity at the center, Head Start provides services that promote health, wellness, and safety for children and families. Through health promotion, prevention, early identification, and intervention activities, Head Start assists children and families in developing a foundation for lifelong health and wellness.

Health promotion helps to improve overall health and health outcomes.

Prevention reduces the likelihood of getting sick or injured.

Early identification detects conditions that may negatively affect healthy development.

Intervention is the delivery of services to treat health conditions that will improve health and learning outcomes.

Head Start implements a variety of strategies that focus on preventive health care, physical and oral health, immunizations, injury prevention, and ongoing care and treatment to support children's healthy growth, development, and early learning success. School readiness begins with health.

Family engagement is a collaborative and strengths-based process through which early childhood professionals, families, and children build positive and goal-oriented relationships. It is a shared responsibility of families and staff at all levels that requires mutual respect for the roles and strengths each has to offer. Family engagement focuses on culturally and linguistically responsive relationship-building with key family members in a child's life. It requires making a commitment to creating and sustaining an ongoing partnership that supports family well-being. It also honors and supports the parent-child relationships that are central to a child's healthy development, school readiness, and well-being. The Family Services staff work with families to build, connect and encourage families on such goals as parents' educational advancement, economic mobility, healthy living and other aspects of family well-being.

The collaboration between early childhood staff, families, and community agencies builds positive relationships. These relationships support parents' progress toward their goals for themselves and their children. Community partners provide culturally and linguistically responsive services and helpful resources.

Another important part of the program is parent education. A wide variety of training and educational opportunities are available for parents. Training topics are provided to meet the needs of families and include such subjects as nutrition, first aid, parenting and self-sufficiency skills.

Children with disabilities and other unique needs receive a full range of Head Start services in addition to special education through partial and full inclusion models in the most natural setting.

All children are welcome and fully included into all aspects of the Head Start program's range of services and supports. The program has strong collaborative relationships with special education services within the county and work collaboratively to support access and participation to children of all abilities.

Each year more than 1,157 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are enrolled in one of four service options: part-day preschool (3.5 hours, school day preschool (6.5 hours), full-day programs (10 hours), family child care and home-based services and in partnerships with childcare centers. Up to ten enrollment spaces are available to pregnant women.

The Head Start program recognizes the importance of healthy mental wellness and through a contract with a local mental health agency, expert counseling and support is available to all children and families/caregivers within the program. Healthy social emotional development is a priority of the program with the implementation of social skills instruction and practice, and an overall positive approach to building confident and socially competent children ready to learn!

The Resource guide is updated annually. Updates can be submitted here

The English Resource guide for 23/24 is available here. This is a printable version only.

The Spanish Resource guide for 23/24 is available here. This is a printable version only.
PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS: To print as a booklet - print double sided, flip on short edge

Program Operations Specialist
(209) 381-5170 Ext. 6903

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Head Start - Merced County Office of Education

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Head Start - Merced County Office of Education