There are twenty-one (21) Head Start Centers; seven (7) located at elementary school sites and eight (8) located at Orange County Community Centers. Orange County Head Start services are delivered in a variety of settings, such as: Family Service Centers, school campuses, public housing, and faith-based organizations . Following is a brief description of the primary service delivery strategies.

• Family Service Centers are single point-of-access, One-Stops Shops, that offer fully integrated, comprehensive family support services to assist children and their families. The John H. Bridges Head Start Family Service Center is a One-Stop-Shop, full-service, multi-purpose complex with partners ranging from Head Start to Mental Health Services. Over twenty-eight public and non-profit agencies provide services at the John Bridges Head Start Family Service Center.
• School-Based Head Start Classrooms are located at several Orange County public schools. These classrooms are an integral part of the elementary school. Children have opportunities to socialize with older children at meal times in the school cafeteria.
• Head Start Public Housing Site is located at the public housing development, Reeves Terrace. This center provides accessible, on-site, early childhood development services for those children and families residing in public or subsidized housing.
• Before/After Care is a full day/full year program option implemented at a designated Head Start location or childcare sites. Before/After Care is available to children whose parents are working full time, in training or attending school.

Male Partnership

Head Start recognizes and promotes parents as the primary educators. Males are especially important, since the majority of Head Start children are living in one-parent households. In an effort to increase the participation of fathers and males in Head Start activities, the Region IV Administration for Children and Families, formed a collaborative with the Alpha Phi Alphi Fraternity and multiple partners to implement the Male Involvement Project at the local level.

In 1995, Orange County Head Start implemented the Male Partnership Project (MPP). The mission of the Male Partnership Project is to increase the participation of fathers and other significant males in the Head Start Program through projects, programs, and activities designed to increase resiliency in the male population. For more information e-mail Renay Oliver, Volunteer Partnership Coordinator.

Family Literacy

The Head Start Family Literacy program was established in 1992, in response to the Head Start national literacy initiative to bolster intergenerational literacy by facilitating reading in the home. This unique, innovative program provides children with story time and access to books, enhances classroom curriculum, increases readership and promotes intergenerational literacy within Head Start families.

Guest Readers Week is held annually at the Centers. Community residents, volunteers, service providers, staff and parents are invited to read stories to the children. Last year over 500 readers participated in this event. For more information e-mail Linda Williams, Family Literacy Coordinator.

Nutrition Fair

The "Adventures in Nutrition Fair" is organized annually to allow children to explore educational exhibits related to gardening, the food guide pyramid, healthy snacks, food safety, healthy fitness, story corner, visits to farm animals and a farmer's market. Exhibits for Parents includes information regarding money management, transition to public schools, parent nutrition, hospital and community topics. Last year, over 1,300 children and their families participated in the event. For more information e-mail Linda Williams, Program Manager.

Foster Grandparents

The Foster Grandparent Program plays a vital role in the Head Start classroom. A Foster Grandparent is placed in each classroom. The foster grandparent provides children with a warm, friendly smile and the extra daily attention and support. The foster grandparent is often a senior citizen, which helps diffuse ageism and promotes the concept of productive aging among Head Start families and the community. For more information e-mail Renay Oliver, Community & Family Partnerships Coordinator.

Transition

The Orange County Head Start Transition Program was established in 1996 to ensure effective transitions of all Head Start children and families as they move from home, childcare or school into a different setting or program. The following transition collaborative partnerships include: Orange County Public Schools, Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C), United Cerebral Palsy and Backpacks by Design. For more information e-mail Linda Williams, Transition Coordinator.