2008 Woodie Awards
Head Start open for business
Branham Cone
Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News
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Head Start is a child-care facility that community members and Brookhaven students can enroll their children in for no cost if they meet certain income guidelines.
Brett Kirstein, president of Head Start of Greater Dallas Board of Directors, said, "I am excited to be here today and see the finished product after having bumps in the road trying to reach this day."
Kirstein said more than 4,000 children are served by the centers in Dallas County each year, and Exxon Mobil has been a great supporter of these programs at the centers.
Dr. Sharon Blackman, president of Brookhaven said, "This is an exciting day for the community and Brookhaven."
She said the plans for the center began to develop six years ago. Talks of a center on campus arose because the child development program at Brookhaven has long been involved with the education of the Head Start staff.
Not only does the new center house the Head Start facilities, it also houses classrooms for the child development program.
"The rooms are equipped with state-of-the art resources," Blackman said.
She said the rooms contain cameras that enable child development students to observe interactions between the Head Start students and teachers. This benefits the children because they are not distracted by Brookhaven students observing them.
Dr. Wright Lassiter, chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District, was in attendance at the ceremony and said, "If you can dream it, it can be achieved."
After he took a tour of the center, he said he went to the faculty area and saw how excited the staff is about the center.
Blackman said, "The center benefits Brookhaven students because they can get free child care for those who meet the income guidelines."
She said Brookhaven students can then take college classes full time, which would allow them to finish their degrees sooner.
Anita Jackson, site manager of Head Start, said the center opened for the first time Sept. 24. It is a school for children who come from low-income families. Activities at the center are designed to provide fun and educational experiences for children.
Jackson said Head Start offers different services to children and families such as medical, nutritional, mental health and social services.
"We make sure every child gets what they need without labeling them," Jackson said.
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