NeighborImpact Head Start looks to fill waiting list

NewsChannel 21 is teaming with our 21 Cares for Kids partner NeighborImpact for a holiday food drive, “Help for the Holidays.” But the agency does more than feed Central Oregonians. One of their programs, Head Start, helps the neediest of families with free pre-school.

“When we joined Head Start, we needed it,” Head Start parent Kelli Dixson said.

Dixson has two daughters. Her oldest, now 5 years old, attended the program.

Kimberly Snow with Head Start, said, “For a family of two, they can’t make more than $15,730” a year.

For a family with two kids, free pre-school can make all the difference.

“It was significantly beneficial to our family,” Dixson said.

It is very helpful to many other families as well. The local programs are all full, in all locations. Spots are opening often, though.

“We have to fill that spot, so we want to make sure we have someone to fill that slot,” Snow said.

That’s where waiting lists come into play.

“Our wait lists are not as ample as they typically are,” Snow said.

In previous years, there have been up to 30 kids on the wait list. This year, in some places, there are only 10.

“When I applied for Head Start, I thought do I really want to apply for this kind of aid,” Dixson said.

More than just pres-chool, kids get medical and dental help, meals and family resources.

“It was challenging, but once I did it, I felt better, because I knew it would be better for my daughter,” Dixson said.

Dixson’s daughter, a Head Start graduate, is now excelling in kindergarten.

“The care and the love the teachers have for the kids, they’ve grown into beautiful blossoms,” Dixson said.

To learn more, visit: http://www.neighborimpact.org/services/head-start/