Luzerne County Head Start opened the door to a world of learning, structure and social growth for Adrienne’s children.
“It gave them a place to explore, to be curious and start understanding how the world works through play, songs, stories and interactions with other children and caring teachers,” she said. “They’ve gained so much confidence, learning to share, express emotions, follow routines and try new things. Their vocabulary has expanded, their creativity has flourished and their independence continues to amaze me.”
When Adrienne enrolled her son, Jackson, in Head Start, he was nonverbal and undergoing speech therapy. He struggled to vocalize how he was feeling and would have emotional outbursts. Adjusting to the school environment was difficult, but in time Jackson began to talk, cooperate with his teachers and make friends.
Adrienne later enrolled her infant daughter, Jordyn, in Early Head Start for home visiting services. She believes Early Head Start played an important role in Jordyn’s overall development, especially on a social level. They formed a close bond with their family educator.
“She was like a part of our family,” Adrienne said. “It wasn’t a stranger coming into our home.”
Jordyn and her younger sister, Joselyn, both went through Pre-K Counts at another program. Then, Adrienne enrolled her youngest child, Jaiden, in Head Start at LCHS. Now in his second year, he will transition to kindergarten next fall.
When Jaiden started preschool, the family had just gone through a challenging time. Adrienne’s landlord decided to sell their house, and she struggled to find stable housing. It was traumatic for the children to abruptly lose the home they had known for their whole lives.
Adrienne was hesitant to send Jaiden to school so soon after this major upheaval, but she was confident he would benefit from the program just as Jackson had years ago.
“I remember the first day, placing his hand into the aide’s hand. He was reluctant because he wanted to stay with me,” Adrienne said. “But he still walked in holding her hand, and to this day, him and her have a very, very deep connection. Very bonded to her. He instantly had that trust in her, like my mom put my hand in her hand, and I feel safe now. Then after a couple of weeks, he just completely blossomed.”
Wanting to get more involved with LCHS, Adrienne joined her center’s Parent Committee. This allowed her to find a support system of other parents and even introduced her to her best friend. One of her fondest memories was visiting her son’s classroom to read his favorite book, “Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses.”
Her Parent Committee participation led to representing the center on the Policy Council, an elected group of parents who help lead and make decisions about LCHS services. Adrienne served as chairperson for the 2024-2025 school year and remains an active member.
For Adrienne, Head Start has provided a safe place to send her children while she focuses on work and other responsibilities. She appreciates the comprehensive resources it offers to parents that touch on everything from nutrition to career development.
She’s also been able to grow as a parent, better connect with her children and deepen their family bond. It speaks to how Head Start services benefit everyone in the home, giving parents what they need to be successful so their children can also thrive. She’s thankful every day for what Head Start has brought into their lives.
“It’s such a huge impact, full circle, not just for the child, but for the entire family,” Adrienne said.
By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate