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

As part of its goal to increase the involvement of fathers in the classroom, home and community, Luzerne County Head Start once again participated in the Million Fathers March on September 20.

A project of the nonprofit Fathers Incorporated, the Million Fathers March is a nationwide event in which fathers, father figures and male role models demonstrate their commitment to their children’s education by escorting them to school. LCHS participated in the initiative for the first time in 2023 and saw a positive response from the fathers and father figures in its programs, which set the stage for continued engagement throughout the school year. 

During the Million Fathers March, LCHS encouraged fathers and father figures of Head Start and Pre-K Counts students to drop off and/or pick up their children. Meanwhile, those enrolled in the Early Head Start home visiting program had the opportunity to attend a special Family Day at their center. LCHS sites across Luzerne and Wyoming counties held family engagement events and activities to coincide with the initiative, including arts and crafts, dance parties and breakfast.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Team members at Chewy’s AVP1 Fulfillment Center in Wilkes-Barre participated in a Back-2-School donation drive throughout the month of August benefiting Luzerne County Head Start. 

Donations included hundreds of crayons, colored pencils and markers, which will benefit children across the agency’s Head Start, Pre-K Counts and Early Head Start programs in Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

Following a remarkable 46 years of service, Luzerne County Head Start Executive Director Lynn Evans Biga has announced her retirement from the agency.

Biga formally made the announcement at an LCHS Board of Directors meeting on September 19. Afterward, the board voted to rename the agency’s Beekman Street Center in Wilkes-Barre after Biga in honor of her outstanding service. Her last day at the agency will be October 25, 2024. 

Carrying out the Head Start mission has been Biga’s life’s work. The Kingston resident began her career at LCHS as a Head Start teacher in 1978 after graduating from Penn State University. She became the agency’s education coordinator soon after, and by 1989, its executive director. 

She has remained a steadfast leader ever since, spending her career building relationships within the community while helping the agency create a relevant service model to meet the emerging needs of children and their families. Biga’s 35 years as executive director have been characterized by her continuous efforts to move LCHS forward to better serve the community’s most vulnerable population. 

In 1994, Biga led the agency through the purchase of the Beekman Street Center in Wilkes-Barre, making LCHS the first program in Region 3 to acquire its own building. Today, it is the largest LCHS site and home to 14 preschool classrooms, an Early Head Start location and administrative offices. 

Under Biga’s leadership in 1999, LCHS received funding to expand its reach with a new Early Head Start program and serve 32 expecting parents, infants and toddlers in a home visiting setting. Since then, the EHS program has grown significantly. Recently, LCHS received a competitive federal grant to expand EHS services by 50 children from birth to age 3, bringing the total to 232 between five locations. 

Other expansions have allowed LCHS to serve additional children and families throughout Biga’s tenure. Most notably, in 2005, LCHS was among the first in Pennsylvania to be awarded state funding for preschool services. That same year, LCHS was selected as one of the “40 Outstanding Head Start Grantees” in the country. 

Biga is a 2023 graduate of Leadership Northeast’s Executive Leadership program and a 2008 graduate of the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA – Johnson & Johnson Management Fellows Program. She serves on the Pennsylvania Head Start Association Board of Directors and is a member of the National Head Start Association. She previously served on the SHINE Advisory Board. 

Since 2001, Biga and her family have sponsored the George R. Evans Memorial Scholarship through the annual LCHS Alumni Scholarship Program, helping former Head Start students achieve their dreams of going to college. 

In 2023, Biga received the LCHS Bold Leadership Award for her contributions to the agency. She was also the recipient of the 2018 Kids Hero Award from Dinners for Kids, the 2011 Reverend Jule Ayers Outstanding Spiritual Welfare Award and the 2010 Leadership Wilkes-Barre Community Leadership Award. 

For Biga, the most significant part of her time at LCHS has been the relationships built, from the staff and families to the Board of Directors, parent Policy Council and community partners. 

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work alongside such talented individuals as we brought success to our organization as a strong and resilient team that cares deeply about the children and families we serve. I am so passionate about this work and thankful for the opportunity to do it every day,” she said. “These have been, and will remain, the best years of my life.” 

Upon Biga’s departure, LCHS Assistant Executive Director Beth White will move into the role of executive director. White, of Factoryville, has been in her position at LCHS for nine years. She brings over 20 years of experience in early childhood education to her new role, with 15 being in a Head Start program. 

Biga said she’s leaving LCHS in capable hands and looking forward to seeing the direction White takes in the future, especially as the agency celebrates 60 years in 2025.

“While I may be stepping away from my role, I am not saying goodbye completely. I will support and mentor Beth White as she transitions into my role and, most importantly, be a lifelong advocate of LCHS,” Biga said. “I am excited for what lies ahead, and I am grateful for the career that has been afforded to me, bringing me to this moment.” 

LCHS Board of Directors President Stacey Kile thanked Biga for her years of service to the agency.

“Under Lynn’s exceptional leadership, our mission and vision of providing early education and creating a supportive and nurturing learning environment where children can grow, thrive and reach their full potential have not only been realized but have flourished beyond our expectations,” Kile said. “We are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication and the profound impact she has made on our Head Start children, families, staff and community. Her commitment has ensured that we address the most critical needs of our children. As she embarks on her well-deserved retirement, we will miss her greatly and wish her all the best. Thanks to Lynn and the rest of our Head Start team, we are well-positioned to continue our mission of assisting children and families for many years to come.”

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

The State Correctional Institution at Dallas helped set Head Start students up for success in the new school year by hosting a school supply collection. 

Employees of SCI Dallas donated crayons, scissors, construction paper and other materials to benefit students at Luzerne County Head Start. The items were distributed to classrooms at LCHS. 

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

The dog days of summer may be ending for Head Start children, but Chewy Pharmacy is helping them get excited for the back-to-school season.

Employees of the online pet pharmacy’s Pittston site put together back-to-school bags containing crayons, markers and other essentials for 18 preschool students at Luzerne County Head Start. The bags were distributed to students in Classroom #2 at the Pittston New Street Center, which Chewy Pharmacy sponsors as part of the Adopt-A-Classroom program. Chewy Pharmacy also provided the center with a box of school supplies.

We’re grateful to Chewy Pharmacy for their partnership in setting our children up for success!

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Benco Dental is making sure Head Start students have what they need for a successful school year.

As a way of giving back to the community, employees of Benco Dental’s finance department collected school supplies at a team event to benefit preschool children at Luzerne County Head Start, including crayons, markers, pencils and construction paper. 

Benco Dental is a longtime supporter of LCHS, and this donation will go a long way in helping Head Start students succeed in school and in life. 

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Two inmate organizations within the State Correctional Institution at Dallas recently made donations to Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. 

The Latin American Cultural and Jaycees organizations at SCI Dallas each provided LCHS with a $500 check for a total of $1,000.

These donations will assist the agency’s efforts to provide comprehensive education, health and family support services at no cost to expecting parents, children from birth to age 5, and their families in Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Ahead of the 2024-2025 school year, Luzerne County Head Start will host a Health and Wellness Fair for all new and returning children. Please note this event is not open to the general public.

What: LCHS Health and Wellness Fair

When: Wednesday, July 31, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: LCHS Beekman Street Center, 23 Beekman St., Wilkes-Barre

All families enrolled in the agency’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs are encouraged to attend. For details, see the flyers below.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate

Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. held its “All Staff Fun Day” on May 24 at Misericordia University. After a meeting to discuss next year’s benefits with representatives of Geisinger and Creative Benefits, LCHS staff participated in fun activities for the rest of the afternoon to kick off the long holiday weekend.

LCHS Board of Directors President Stacey Kile hosted “Geisinger Games.” Participants spun a wheel and landed on exercises to do for prizes, like squats and jumping jacks.

Staff members played yard games and relaxed in the sunshine. Several employees even volunteered to share their talents by teaching a class, including Cheryl Wallitsch (chunky hand knitting), Angela Dube (crocheting), Kelly Billig (canvas painting), Sunshine Campen (no-bake cooking), Callista Connors (tie dye artistry) and Eva Kennedy (scrapbooking). Mobile Om Massage offered 15-minute massages. The day also included gentle yoga with Jill Price and mindfulness meditation.

By Brooke Williams, Community Advocate