At Head Start We Enroll Your Entire Family
MISSION STATEMENT
Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. provides comprehensive infant, toddler, and child development services. We are an infant, toddler, and child focused program that embraces the entire family. Greater Bergen Community Action works with the local community to provide services that address child-care and family support issues, which enables the staff to help families become self-sufficient. “Teaching Children, Reaching Families”
GIVE YOUR CHILD A HEAD START
Diversity
All of our schools are multilingual and include children and families from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Diversity is celebrated both inside and outside of the classroom.
Nutrition
At mealtimes, students eat delicious, nutritious, USDA-approved meals from a menu prepared by our in-house registered dietitians. We also offer 31 specialized menus that can be prepared for students who have dietary restrictions due to allergies or cultural needs.
Health
All Head Start students are given free health, dental, vision, and height and weight screenings by medical professionals within the first 45 days of beginning the program. They are then referred to health services of the highest quality right in their own communities.
Education
Every day at GBCA Head Start and Early Head Start, infants, toddlers and children enjoy activities and games that follow a research-based curriculum that aligns with NJ State licensing standards and is designed to teach everything from letters and numbers to sharing and getting along with others. All students also receive developmental screenings administered by education staff
Special Needs
Children with disabilities are welcome in the program. Parents, teachers, and specialists all work together to develop a unique program for each child, both in the classroom and at home. Children with disabilities are included in regular activities and play and learn right along with all the other children. Your child’s therapist may also come to the classroom and aid the child in learning.
PREGNANT MOTHERS CAN GET A HEAD START TOO
A healthy pregnancy has a direct influence on the health and development of a child. Our program offers supportive prenatal and postpartum guidance, parenting and nutrition classes, and home visits to help families prepare for the addition of the newborn in the home.
PARENTS: GROW ALONG WITH YOUR CHILD
Each family is assigned its own family worker, and together they create a family Partnership Plan, which helps them identify life goals and the steps needed to accomplish them. With job training, adult education classes, housing assistance, and more, Head Start offers many opportunities for parents looking for a better future for themselves and their families.
Parent Education Opportunities
Parenting tips ranging from stress relief for the busy parent to engaging your children at home
Individual & Family Counseling
not all services available in all locations
A Men Only group that meet once a month to discuss topics such as conflict resolution in and out of the home, the importance of leading your children by example and with respect, and more
Learn how to make nutritious meals for your family
YOUR INPUT MATTERS
As volunteer members of our program, parents can volunteer in the classroom, on fieldtrips or even members of our Policy Council, where parents and other adult family members along with the Program Director, share in making many important decisions for the Head Start/Early Head Start program through “Shared Governance."