The City of Wilkes-Barre Health Department in conjunction with Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. and Maternal & Family Health Services will host an infant & childhood nutrition event in the parking lot of Luzerne County Head Start’s Wilkes-Barre office, 23 Beekman St., on Tues., June 21st from 11am-3pm.

Healthy eating at a young age is important for proper growth and development. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025 recommend those 2-years and older follow a healthy eating pattern that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables.

During the event, a $15 voucher for the Wilkes-Barre farmers market will be provided to attendees (one voucher per family). A number of area agencies will also be on hand to provide information, activities and kid-friendly giveaways for those in attendance. Those in attendance include:

• Luzerne County Head Start, Inc.
• Maternal & Family Health Services
• Luzerne Wyoming County MH/DS Early Intervention Program
• Food Demonstrations from the Commissions on Economic Opportunity
• Dinner 4 Kids
• Women, Infants & Children
• Free 2BMom
• Penn State Extension Co-op
• Community Health Bags from The Domestic Violence Service Center
• The City of Wilkes-Barre Health Department’s ‘Healthy Bear’ and ‘Wheel of Health’

Nutrition education materials will also be distributed to families. Plus, don’t miss a special appearance from TUX, the Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins mascot from 11am -12pm! The event is free, open to the public and has plenty of parking.

This project was funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant.

Twelve Luzerne County Head Start (LCHS) alumni from six school districts in Luzerne County who will continue their education after high school were honored during LCHS’s 57^th anniversary celebration.  Scholarship recipients are usually recognized at the agency’s annual luncheon, which was canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In order to celebrate their accomplishments, the agency sponsored a small indoor celebration at its Beekman Street location in Wilkes-Barre.  Recipients were invited to attend the celebration, where they met with their scholarship sponsors. 

The Luzerne County Head Start Alumni Scholarship program was established in 1987 to honor the achievements of former Head Start students graduating from high school and continuing their education.  This year, 12 scholarships totaling $18,100 were presented to students who will pursue higher education.  From 1987 through 2022, scholarships totaling $311,350 have been awarded to outstanding students who began their educational journey at a Head Start program.  Recipients must submit an application and are selected based on academic performance, personal achievements, leadership, motivation and school and community involvement. The scholarship fund is supported in its entirety by community organizations, individuals and businesses. 

In addition to the scholarship awards, LCHS employees were honored at a virtual ceremony earlier in the day for their years of service and dedication to the nonprofit organization.  Awards were also presented to the agency’s 2021-2022 “Outstanding Community Partners,” including Chief Donald Leshko & the Hazleton Fire Department; Joe & Bedonna Mitchneck, founder of the “Toys from Heidi project;” Pastor David Walker and the Dallas United Methodist Church and Caitlin Styczen, Mondelez International.  LCHS’s Outstanding Community Partner award recognizes area businesses, organizations and individuals in the community who have made significant contributions to the Head Start program and who have made a difference in the lives of the children and families the agency serves.

For the second year, Luzerne County Head Start presented its Bold Leadership award to an outstanding staff member.

The award acknowledges and celebrates exemplary leadership that has a significant and positive impact on the children, families and staff at LCHS. It recognizes those who have been an employee at the organization for at least three years, and who demonstrate initiative, serve as outstanding role models, and inspire others to work collaboratively and creatively, while serving as a champion for the children and families LCHS serves. 

The recipient of the 2022 LCHS Bold Leadership Award was maintenance worker, Charles Josulevicz.

Charlie has been a dedicated employee for many years and always displays a pleasant, cooperative attitude in all that he does.  On a daily basis, he demonstrates qualities that go above and beyond what is expected of him. 

Charlie’s kindness and patience is evident, as he often drops whatever he is doing at the moment to lend a hand to someone in need.  Despite the many demands he and his department have on their time, they go from center to center, answering whatever the call may be.  During the pandemic the workload has increased, but the department continues to be reliable in every way. 

Charlie also maintains strong relationships with everyone he comes in contact with, including the children at LCHS.  His wonderful sense of humor and friendly personality further exemplify his character. His kindness and hard work create a welcoming atmosphere at LCHS.

Charlie, LCHS thanks you and your team for all you have done to meet the challenges we faced this past year. We are grateful to have you as part of our team and are proud to present you with the agency’s Bold Leadership Award.

Fourteen-year-old, Lizzie Shacklett, an eighth grade student who currently resides in Montgomery County, recently purchased several bilingual books for children in Luzerne County Head Start’s (LCHS) preschool program.  The young woman who was recently named “Miss Luzerne County’s Outstanding Teen” is focused on raising awareness about the importance of literacy in young children. 

LCHS, which provides early childhood education and comprehensive services to qualified children from birth to age five and their families in Luzerne and Wyoming Counties, was in need of bilingual books for their dual language learners. The young woman sold some of her preloved clothing in order to raise money to purchase these books.

Kelly Chamberlain, director of education at LCHS says, “When the same story is read in two different languages, the child grasps a better understanding of language and how to use it correctly.  For this reason, bilingual books help to connect the child’s new experiences and their cultural heritage.”

Profit obtained from the sale of her preloved clothing allowed Lizzie to purchase three dozen books for three and four-year-old children at LCHS’s Beekman Street location in Wilkes-Barre. Lizzie’s goal is to donate as many books as possible to schools, educational centers and shelters.

Thank you to Lizzie for thinking of LCHS and for helping to make a difference in the lives of young children.

SNAP as Public Assistance for Head Start Eligibility – The Office of Head Start recently announced families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are now eligible to apply for Head Start/Early Head Start services.

This policy change, which went into effect on April 21, 2022, allows Head Start programs to reach families better, minimize the burden on families seeking public assistance, and coordinate benefit programs so that families eligible for one program can more easily participate in other services for which they qualify.

Research has shown that SNAP households with young children have equivalent level of need to families currently receiving Head Start services. The majority of households with young children who receive SNAP benefits have incomes below 100% of poverty.

In addition to TANF and SSI, programs now consider SNAP as “public assistance” for purposes of determining eligibility. The inclusion of SNAP benefits as public assistance will expand the pool of eligible participants in Head Start programs for these households.

If you receive SNAP benefits, you are now eligible to apply for Luzerne County Head Start’s early childhood education program.

LCHS is currently enrolling expectant families and children ages 0-5 in Head Start & Early Head Start. To begin an application, click HERE or call 570.829.6231 or 800.551.5829.

Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. (LCHS) will hold its 3^rd annual “Walk for Wellness” on May 16, 2022 from 1pm-2pm at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. The event coincides with the agency’s 57th anniversary celebration. The Walk for Wellness encourages all staff to gather at the park for a day of relaxation and to celebrate the end of the 2021-2022 program year. LCHS believes that in order to create a culture of health in an early childhood environment, educators and staff must also feel supported and valued in their health and well-being.  The goal of this event is to recognize all staff for exceptional performance and encourage, support and reward their professionalism for the job they do.  Well-taken care of employees will help our community’s most vulnerable children receive the education and support they need to be successful.

In addition to the Walk for Wellness, LCHS will celebrate 57 years of services during a virtual celebration earlier that day. All staff who are celebrating milestone anniversaries with the agency will be honored, as well as four community organziations, who have been named LCHS’s 2021-2022 “Outstanding Community Partners.” These include: Pastor David Walker and the Dallas United Methodist Church; Joe and Bedonna Mitchneck, founders of the “Toys from Heidi” project; Caitlin Styczen and Mondelez international and Chief Donald Leshko and the Hazleton Fire Department. LCHS would like to thank our Gold and Silver Level Sponsors who helped to make both of these events possible.

GOLD LEVEL ($500)

SILVER LEVEL ($250)

WHEN? 9am – 3pm on March 29th, 30th, 31st

WHERE? 23 Beekman St., Wilkes-Barre, PA

663 Carson St., Hazleton, PA

QUESTIONS? lchshr@hsweb.org

See what opportunities are available HERE

Bring your resume and come talk with us!!!!

The Third District Dental Society in partnership with Wilkes-Barre Volunteers in Medicine donated dental bags for all Luzerne County Head Start preschool children to celebrate February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. The bag included a toothbrush, toothpaste and 2 flyers about dental care for children.

The Third District Dental Society of the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) was founded in 1930 and is made up of member dentists in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike, Susquehanna, Monroe, Carbon, Columbia, and Wyoming counties. Member dentists and professionals strive to serve the public, improve their health, promote the art and science of dentistry and represent the interests of its members and the people they serve.

Volunteers in Medicine is a non-profit, community based organization developed to help meet the primary health care needs of the working uninsured and the underinsured populations in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. (LCHS) opened a new Head Start classroom for preschool aged children at Luzerne County Community College’s (LCCC) Hazleton center, 100 W. Broad Street.  Twelve children, ages 3-5, will attend services at this newly created space.  The classroom is funded through the agency’s federal grant money. 

Luzerne County Head Start executive director, Lynn Evans Biga, said, “We chose this location because the need for our services is great in the city of Hazleton.  Finding the right space for a classroom that fits the requirements of our program can be challenging.  The partnership we have with LCCC has helped to make this a great success.  We couldn’t do this without their commitment to our organization and understanding of our mission.”

The new classroom will provide comprehensive services to qualifying children and their families who live in the Hazleton area.  “We’re pleased to continue our valuable partnership with LCHS through the addition of a Head Start classroom at the College’s Hazleton Center,” said Thomas P. Leary, president, LCCC.  “Luzerne County Community College and Head Start have worked together on several joint initiatives at our main campus in Nanticoke and we look forward to working with the Head Start program and its students in the Hazleton area.”

In addition to its newest classroom at LCCC’s Hazleton center, LCHS has Head Start centers located at 663 Carson Street; 334 West Birch Street; and in the Hazleton Integration Project, 225 E 4^th Street.  LCHS also provides Early Head Start (EHS) services for pregnant women and children from birth to age three.  The Hazleton EHS program is located at 10 W. Chestnut Street in Hazleton.  All centers are currently enrolling new applicants in both programs.