ISWA Head Start

ISWA Head Start provides comprehensive children’s services for the Catawba Indian Nation. Services are provided through funding from Head Start and the state.  As a Head Start program, the primary mission is to provide comprehensive early childhood services for children.  All children are provided a safe, nurturing environment in which they are given the opportunity to learn and experience success, with additional services provided to children with special needs.  ISWA Head Start ensures that children are provided with medical and dental examinations and nutritious meals. Parents are partners with ISWA Head Start in the education of their children, participating in home visits, parent-teacher conferences, training and numerous avenues of opportunities to make decisions about program operations and services.

ISWA Head Start provides

• Quality preschool education that follows the Creative Curriculum for 80 tribal and non-tribal children in York County
• Developmental assessment using the Denver Developmental Screening and Child Observation Records
• 4 classrooms with an average of 20 children per class
• Staff-to-child ratio of 1:10 (5 teachers, 4 with associates degrees and 1 with CDA; 4 assistant teachers, 3 with a CDA)
• Bus transportation for 63 children
• 2 nutritious meals and 1 snack daily
• Services to families as well as children through Family Partnership Agreements that facilitate goal setting and achievement
• Referrals for medical care, dental care, mental health services, continuing education, and emergency assistance
• Services from a mental health professional who spends at least 6 hours on-site monthly
• Services from a speech therapist on-site as needed