ABOUT US
Who We Are
West Central Community Services, Inc. is the grantee for a Federally funded preschool program called Head Start and a birth to 3 Federally funded program called Early Head Start. We provide children ages 3-5 with a center-based school readiness program and a home based birth to age 3 school readiness program.
Head Start experience has shown that the needs of children vary considerably from community to community and that to serve those needs effectively, programs should be individualized.
Head Start is successful in providing children and families with high-quality, school readiness programs because we follow very specific guidance from the Office of Head Start. Check them out!
"Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted."-G.Keillor
WCCS, Inc. Management Team
Mary J. Reed - Executive/Head Start Director
Tara Aplin - Education Manager
Amy Winkler - Health/Nutrition Services Manager
Jeff Flynn - Transportation and Facilities Manager
Lisa Medina-Foshay - Family Services Manager
Cassy Jacob- Mental Health/Disabilities Manager
Angela Larkins - Fiscal Officer
Early Childhood Development // Preparing Our Children for Kindergarten // School Readiness
As soon as children enter our program, efforts to ready them for kindergarten begin. One way we accomplish school readiness is by utilizing the Creative Curriculum and the Teaching Strategies GOLD Online Assessment. These tools support all types of learners, which include children with special needs and children with advanced knowledge and skills.
Health & Nutrition Services
Parents are given resources and are encouraged to establish medical and dental homes for their families. All Head Start staff partner with parents to ensure that all children are up to date in medical and dental care. Attendance is monitored in order to track health issues and assist with treatment and follow up if needed. The Health/Nutrition Services Manager works to engage parents in developing skills to encourage early intervention and prevention of health concerns.
Mental Health & Disabilities Services
Head Start regulations require that at least 10% of the total number of children enrolled in our program be diagnosed with a disability. In our program this number is 31 children. Head Start works closely with all local school districts to service children with disabilities in a more individualized way.
