We produce self-esteem by educating children and families today for a better tomorrow.
Lafourche Parish Head Start is more than just an educational system. It is a community service, a community outreach, a social service,
a medical service, and an overall comprehensive program to meet the needs of the families we serve and to educate those families in fostering
self-sufficiency. We also encourage and promote transitional services/activities to prepare the children and families prior to attending the
local school or public school districts.
Enrollment is based upon a system of awarding points to a set of criteria, centering around age and income. The child must be three years of age
before entering the Head Start program. A common factor of the average Head Start child/family is limited or low income.
Overall, we work as a partner in the community we serve. Interagency agreements are common in the delivery of a comprehensive set of services to children.
Geographic Area
Lafourche Parish, named after Bayou Lafourche and officially created in 1807, is one of the largest parishes in Louisiana
measuring 77 miles long, 18 miles wide and encompassing 1,469 square miles. It is a rural parish whose major industries
include oil and gas production, agriculture, sugar refineries, shipbuilding and commercial fishing.
Lafourche Parish has a population of 89,974, per the 2000 U.S. Census. The target area is very large with the populace
spread out in pockets throughout the parish since most of the communities and towns in the parish are located along Bayou Lafourche.
The following cities/towns in the parish are: Thibodaux, Raceland, Mathews, Lockport, Larose, Cut Off, Galliano, and Golden Meadow.
Presently, Head Start sites are located in Thibodaux, Bayou Blue, Lockport, and Larose/Cut Off. Many residents live in isolated and
secluded portions of the parish. Additionally, a public transit system does not exist, leaving residents to depend on family and
friends for transportation.
Click HERE for a Lafourche map highlighting our Head Start classroom sites.
Governing Board
The Lafourche Parish Council is the Governing Board for the Lafourche Parish Head Start Program. This board is
the group that is legally responsible for the overseeing of operations of the Head Start program.
The Lafourche Parish Head Start Policy Council is a group that works in
partnership with the grantee, key management staff, and the overall goals of the program.
Community Assessment
The purpose of the community assessment is to identify the most significant strengths and needs of Head Start
eligible children and their families. A community needs assessment was conducted in 2006. Nicholls State University
sociology professors, Drs Martin Simpson and James Butler, reviewed, modified, and analyzed the data collected from about 900 clients.
Lafourche Parish Head Start will deliver high quality services to children and families in all areas of service and program management
defined by the Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1304) and the Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1308).
Program Plans are reviewed and revised yearly. Most recent revisions to Community Assessment Program Plans can be found
HERE.
Program Approach
Our program’s main goal is to prepare children to enter kindergarten with the skills and abilities necessary to succeed
in school. The key to reaching this goal is to ensure that our program is high-quality and that all children and their
families are included through strong outreach efforts. Based on self-assessments and monitoring reports, our program
quality has improved, especially in the area of early language and literacy. Health and social services are an integral
part of our program as well and we provide family workers to ensure parents and children obtain necessary services.
The Lafourche Parish Head Start program will continue to provide quality services which comply with Head Start Performance
Standards, reflect findings from the annual self-assessment, the Community Assessment and are consistent with the philosophy
of Head Start.
The Children We Serve
Lafourche Parish Head Start provides services to 272 three- and four-year-old children.
A Parenting Center is located at the Sycamore Head Start site in Thibodaux and at the Myra G. Champagne Head Start site in Lockport.
We maintain a waiting list for all sites, including home-based services, to assure full funded enrollment
and ongoing services to as many families as possible. Head Start children must be three years of age on
or before September 30. Head Start also serves four year old children. Priority will be given to children
who will be eligible to attend kindergarten the following year. This program will enroll 10% of children with
disabilities as participants in the Head Start program.
Our Head Start program: provides a nine-month school year (160 days) for our children, August through May,
with services to parents/children beginning in mid- August; utilizes a 6 1/2 hour day schedule; and follows
the Lafourche Parish School System calendar for holidays.
Personnel
Lafourche Parish Head Start employs a Director, an Education Manager, Health/Disabilities Manager,
ERSEA/Transportation Manager, Nutrition/Male Involvement Manager, In-kind/Volunteer Manager,
and an Administrative Assistant/Facilities/Policy Council Manager.
In addition to this management team, the following are employed:
Search Site
