Early childhood neurological studies were the subject of seminar sponsored by the Mayor s Office to help educate the public, child care workers and parents about the importance of the first three years in creating emotionally healthy and productive children. About three hundred people attended the conference which included comments by doctors, child therapists, educators and elected officials. The city has also demonstrated its determination to ensure effective early childhood experiences for its youngest citizens by accepting the request of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services to operate Head Start for nine months during which a new permanent sponsor was selected. Head Start provides health care and social services for families and increases the likelihood of school success for its children. Many school violence prevention programs are based in creating positive alternatives for students in their leisure time, so that violence which is perpetuated outside school hours does not extend to school buildings.
Children are at risk during the hours after school before their parents return from work.
In order to play, they are required to attend anger management, community awareness and computer training sessions. Young people worked in the zoo, aquatic facilities, and park gardens. In job training segments they learn to create a resume, fill out job applications, participate effectively in an interview, and received CPR and first aid training. Drug tests were administered both before and at the end of the program. The children attended drug and alcohol prevention and gang and peer pressure n sessions.