Parents looking for places to send their child as some Head Start Programs only have limited capacity

METROPOLIS Ill. (KBSI) – Some kids are getting this chance through the head start program, but some kids are being left behind. 

Officials and parents speaking out about these programs in Illinois and Missouri. 

HeadStart is an early education program for kids under five that focuses on kindergarten readiness that also helps children develop social skills. 

This program is in popular demand and getting into one varies on each county near the child. For some parents, it’s easy, for others it can be challenging. 

“I’m a parent and I’ve been through it,” said Rhine. 

Shawna Rhine, the Community Outreach Coordinator for Southern Seven Health Department says a lot goes on in head start.

It’s not just a program to watch your child but help them prepare and excel in the future. 

“It’s not just day care like I say we work with the kids. A lot of socialization takes place, a lot of play but you’ve got more than one or two people looking after your child and making sure he or she is getting what they need,” said Rhine. 

Rhine explains you don’t have to live in the county. 

You can also take your child to a county you work in if the program is not already filled. Each county is different, and the Southern Illinois counties for Head Start are filling up fast. 

“It’s just a well-rounded program and because The Southern Seven Health Department it’s the umbrella over southern seven head start the children in the program also have access to services under the health department.”

Local moms in Cape Girardeau talk about the benefits of the Head Start Program overall. 

They think it’s a great program. However, some families don’t have access to these resources. Some families don’t have access to these resources.

Some families are on the waitlist for this program and the wait is excruciating. 

Private schools are not able to have the head start program, so they offer three-year-old and four-year-old programs however what gets in the way of these programs is the price. 

“The reason we started our preschool program is to give families another option. We are not free like head start would be, but we are fairly reasonable when it comes to what you would pay for daycare,” said Bruns. 

Alan Bruns is the Principal for Saint Mary Cathedral School in Cape Girardeau.

He says private schools like Saint Mary’s have more to offer than just daycare.

“More than daycare we do have some curriculum and learning and again communicating with parents on how to help their child be better prepared pre-kindergarten this year and kindergarten after that,” said Bruns.

Parents say that Head Start is a great program, but it is underfunded and there are multiple people who are underserved.

If you’re looking for a Head Start program for your child under five, visit your local schools in the county or the county you work in to see if there’s openings.