All children are assessed for nutritional inadequacies, and families then given counseling as needed or wanted. Through the USDA childcare Food Program, Head Start daily serves children a nutritionally balanced breakfast, snacks, and lunch. Through community collaborations, families are provided with referrals to other nutrition resources as needed. Head Start believes that parents are the primary educators of their young children. The program is therefore designed to provide parents with activities that can help them become the best educators they can be.
Parents can gain new skills by volunteering in classrooms, the kitchen, or the offices.
When qualified, Head Start parents are given preference for employment opportunities available within the program. An extremely important role for parents is working with staff to make decision about their children and about the program. Parents can influence policies effecting the operations of the Head Start program by serving on the Policy Council which must approve program goals, budgets, center locations, employment decisions, and any other major changes which affect children and families served. The Social Services Component creates the link between the family, the classroom, and the community. Using a case management approach, staff develop partnership agreements with families in order to assist and support the family to meet their own needs and attain the goals they set for themselves.