One Voice Central Texas interviewed Executive Director Albert L. Black on Child Inc Head Start. Below are excerpts from that interview:
One Voice asks: What does your organization do?
“Child Inc Head Start is a national high quality research-based early childhood development program designed to promote school readiness for income eligible families with children ages 0-5, including pregnant mothers. Child Inc is focused on closing the achievement gap between more affluent peers and lower income children.
For over forty three years, Child Inc has been preparing very low-income preschool children to succeed in school. Education theories, practices and service models may change over time; however, our core belief that all children – especially high-risk, very young children need comprehensive early education that involves the entire family grows ever stronger.
We pursue a strong, clear, and comprehensive focus on all aspects of healthy development, including social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. School ready children possess the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for success in school and later in life.”
“Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. Programming helps build relationships with families that support family well-being and many other important areas. Parents’ positive involvement in the early childhood stage can help in their child’s cognitive development as well as school readiness and achievement.
Parent involvement provides opportunities for parent participation in a variety of program activities that support child and adult development, including policy and Child Inc program decision making.
Family Engagement provides ongoing, goal-directed relationships between Child Inc staff and families that are mutual, culturally responsive, and that support what is best for children and families, both individually and collectively…”
How did you become interested in this work?
When I was growing, up my parents instilled in me the power of education. As a young man it was clear to me that, along with education, it was important for young children to have a positive male role model in their lives. I wanted to show young children and young men that as a man, being involved in the lives of young children and their education has a positive impact on children and the community…
To read the complete interview, visit http://onevoicecentraltx.org/featured_members/albert-l-black/
