Semcac launches first year of Early Head Start program

Parents with little children are about to get some help.

Semcac is opening an Early Head Start program in Mower County and will register families for the program on July 23. Early Head Start will help families with children from birth to 5-years-old, and expecting mothers are also encouraged to apply.

“We look at the whole well-being of the child,” said Beth Stanford, Semcac Head Start director.

Early Head Start focuses on parent education and support, as a parent is a child’s first teacher and guide. To that end, Early Head Start Home Based Educator Lisa Engstrom will visit families weekly for about one and a half hours to help parents and get them connected with community resources, safety and health information, child development lessons and more.

“We really want to empower families to develop goals for themselves and for their children,” Engstrom said.

In addition, Engstrom will lead two socialization meetings a month at the Austin Public Library for Early Head Start families.

Families interested in the Early Head Start program can register at Band Shell Community Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, July 23. There will be information for parents and crafts and snacks for children. Parents are asked to bring copies of their family’s income verification for 2011 and a copy of their child’s current immunizations to apply. For more information, call Semcac at 507-433-5889.