A boost in federal funding will allow Luzerne County Head Start to extend the reach of its income-based Early Head Start program. 

LCHS receives over $10 million annually from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, for its Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Recently, HHS increased LCHS’s annual funding by $807,385 through a nationally competitive grant opportunity that allowed for Early Head Start expansion. HHS made $6,922,114 available to ACF Region III, which includes Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C.

Early Head Start is a home-based program that provides child development and family support services to expecting parents, infants and toddlers up to age 3 using a two-generation approach. LCHS offers Early Head Start services in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Edwardsville, Exeter and Tunkhannock. Family educators conduct weekly home visits, and families may attend socialization events at their Early Head Start center. 

With this award, LCHS increased its federally funded enrollment for Early Head Start by 50 children, bringing the total to 222. (The United Way of Wyoming Valley funds 10 additional Early Head Start children.) 

Infants and toddlers in the Wilkes-Barre, Edwardsville and Exeter areas are the focus of the expansion. Eligible families interested in enrolling may fill out an application at lcheadstart.org or call 570-829-6231 for more information. 

Additionally, LCHS will hire five family educators with a tentative November start date to serve the new caseloads. Applications are being accepted on the agency’s website. An Early Head Start Career Fair is scheduled for Friday, October 11, from noon to 4 p.m. at the LCHS Beekman Street Center, 23 Beekman St., Wilkes-Barre. On-site interviews will be held, and candidates are encouraged to bring their resume.

“We are thrilled to expand our Early Head Start program,” said LCHS Executive Director Lynn Evans Biga. “We know that to support the development of the whole child, we must focus on the whole family. We look forward to creating pathways to success for even more children and families in our community.” 

Cindy Lange, whose 3-year-old son Kaiden went through Wilkes-Barre Early Head Start and transitioned to Head Start this year, praised the program for its hands-on approach and focus on cooperative play. 

She said Early Head Start helped Kaiden develop his gross and fine motor skills, learn his shapes, colors, alphabet and numbers, and understand the importance of proper hygiene and healthy eating.

Along with supporting Kaiden in achieving these milestones, their family educator was skilled in being able to recognize when intervention and evaluation were needed, Lange added. 

“It’s a wonderful program that I encourage all parents of young children to explore,” Lange said.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate