Preschool Services Department celebrates National Head Start Awareness Month by empowering families and communities for lifelong success

Photo of Princess and Ocean McGeilberry.

October is National Head Start Awareness Month, and the San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department is joining the celebration. This annual observance highlights the program’s dedication to fostering children’s holistic development while engaging families and communities in meaningful, transformative ways. Head Start goes beyond early education; it offers a comprehensive approach that equips families with the resources and support needed to overcome obstacles, so they can thrive.

A central part of Head Start’s vision is an emphasis on parent-family involvement. The program recognizes that children thrive when their families are secure, supported and actively engaged in their development. Head Start not only prepares children for academic achievement but provides families with the tools and opportunities to achieve their goals. With a range of services in health, nutrition, family services and education, it ensures that families are fully prepared to support their children’s growth, both at school and at home.

The Preschool Services Department has a long history of assisting families with these services, and its commitment goes even further by connecting families with external resources to meet critical needs like housing, employment and other social services. This community-based approach has created lasting impacts not only for individual families but also for the larger community.

One example of this success is Tamar McGeilberry’s story, a mother of two children currently enrolled in the Head Start program with an infant at home. During the enrollment process, the PSD support services team discovered that the family was experiencing a housing crisis. The team collaborated with the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County to connect the family with the Keys Program, which helped them find stable housing within the county. The McGeilberry family also needed essential household items to settle into their new home. The PSD team took action to assist with the fulfillment of the family’s needs for beds and clothing for the children.

The Preschool Services Department team’s efficiency and care were evident throughout the process. Grateful for the swift process, McGeilberry could now focus on her children’s happiness and well-being. The children were delighted with their new beds and clothes, and the McGeilberry family’s story became a shining example for families in need. McGeilberry now shares her experience with other parents, spreading the word about the comprehensive support that Head Start offers.

As we honor National Head Start Awareness Month, we are reminded of Head Start’s profound legacy, which since 1965 has supported over 39 million children and their families, preparing them for success in school and beyond. With its focus on early childhood education, health, nutrition and family well-being, Head Start has driven positive change in communities nationwide.

The Preschool Services Department is proud to be part of this powerful legacy by engaging families like the McGeilberry’s in ways far beyond the classroom. Families and alumni are the foundation of Head Start, serving as a reminder that every child’s success story is rooted in the strength and support of their family.

As we reflect on the contributions of past and present Head Start families, we also look ahead to a future filled with possibilities. With continued resources, encouragement and care, Head Start will keep building great minds and empowering communities. The Preschool Services Department is proud to be a part of this movement and invites the community to join us in celebrating Head Start’s lasting impact. In Head Start, the journey is about more than preparing children for school—it’s about building up families and communities for a lifetime of success.

Additional County Update News – September 26, 2024