Reach Up Incorporated

TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

HEAD START PART-DAY AND PART-YEAR, CENTER BASED:A PART-DAY/PART-YEAR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM PROVIDES CHILDREN AND PARENTS WITH A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO GROW. REACH-UP, INC. CURRENTLY HAS 8 CENTER BASED SITES THAT OPERATE FOUR DAYS A WEEK, SEVEN HOURS PER DAY, AND ELEVEN MONTHS A YEAR. PARENTS PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE CENTERS. EACH CLASS OF CHILDREN IS STAFFED BY TEACHERS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANTS. FOSTER GRANDPARENTS ASSIST THE TEACHERS IN SOME OF THE CENTERS. SCHOOL DISTRICT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS WORK IN COLLABORATION IN CLASSROOMS WHERE NEEDED. THE CLASSROOM IS ORGANIZED BY STATIONS - ART, TABLE GAMES, LARGE MOTOR EQUIPMENT, DRAMATIC PLAY, HOUSEKEEPING, READING, AND SCIENCE AREAS.EACH DAY INCLUDES NUTRITIOUS MEALS, SMALL GROUP STRUCTURED TIMES, LARGE GROUP ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MUSIC OR CIRCLE GAMES, FREE CHOICE TIME, AND OUTSIDE OR GYM TIME.EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START FULL-DAY CHILD CARE CENTER:THREE FULL-DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD AND CHILDCARE PROGRAMS PROVIDE EARLY HEAD START/HEAD START SERVICES. ONE EARLY HEAD START CENTER AND TWO HEAD START CENTERS OPERATE FIVE DAYS A WEEK, 10 HOURS PER DAY, AND TWELVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. PARENTS PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE FULL-DAY CENTERS. EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE TO THE FAMILIES. ADDITIONAL CHILDCARE HOURS ARE PAID BY THE FAMILIES OR THIRD PARTY REIMBURSEMENT. THE PROGRAM TARGETS PARENTS WORKING OR ATTENDING SCHOOL AND NEEDING ALL DAY CHILD CARE. THE FULL-DAY CENTERS ARE STAFFED BY TWO TEACHERS AND TWO EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSISTANTS.THE CLASSROOM IS ORGANIZED BY STATIONS - ART, TABLE GAMES, LARGE MOTOR EQUIPMENT, DRAMATIC PLAY, HOUSEKEEPING, READING, AND SCIENCE AREAS.EACH DAY INCLUDES NUTRITIOUS MEALS, SMALL GROUP STRUCTURED TIMES, LARGE GROUP ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MUSIC OR CIRCLE GAMES, FREE CHOICE TIME, AND OUTSIDE OR GYM TIME. EARLY HEAD START AND HEAD START - HOME BASED:FAMILIES RECEIVE HOME VISITS (1 1/2 HOURS) ONE DAY PER WEEK FROM A HOME VISITOR. PARENTS AND HOME VISITORS WORK TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT AN INDIVIDUAL CURRICULUM FOR EACH CHILD ACCORDING TO HIS/HER NEEDS. DEVELOPMENTAL AND GENERAL AWARENESS ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED FOR EACH VISIT. LEARNING MATERIALS ARE LEFT IN THE HOME FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO USE UNTIL THE NEXT VISIT.TWICE A MONTH CHILDREN AND PARENTS COME TOGETHER FOR A SOCIALIZATION EXPERIENCE. SOCIALIZATIONS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HOME BASED PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY GIVE THE CHILDREN OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS. PARENTS SPEND PART OF THE TIME WITH THE CHILDREN AT LEARNING STATIONS. THE REST OF THE TIME IS SPENT IN PARENT DISCUSSION GROUPS.282 CHILDREN ARE SERVED IN THE HEAD START & EARLY HEAD START CENTER BASED AND HOME BASED PROGRAMS, HOWEVER DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES, MANY CLASSROOMS EITHER DID NOT OPEN OR DID NOT RUN AT FULL CAPACITY.

EARLY HEAD START:THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM WORKS WITH PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO THREE, INCLUDING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM OFFERS FAMILY CENTERED ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, PARENT PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR:1. PARENTS WHO WANT TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT BUT NEED SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING2. PREGNANT WOMEN3. TEEN AND SINGLE PARENTS4. STRESSED PARENTS5. PARENTS WITH AN INFANT OR TODDLER WHO IS MEDICALLY FRAIL OR DISABLEDPROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDE FULL-DAY/FULL-YEAR CENTER BASED CHILDCARE SERVICES, WEEKLY HOME VISITS FOR EACH FAMILY AS WELL AS PARENT/CHILD EDUCATION THAT TAKES PLACE IN AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOM. FAMILIES CAN CHECK OUT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE BOOKS AND TOYS FROM THE EARLY HOME START LENDING LIBRARIES.

FOOD SERVICE EXPENSES:REACH-UP, INC. PARTICIPATES IN UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CHILD ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.EACH DAY THE HEAD START CHILD EATS NUTRITIOUS MEALS. DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF HOURS THE CHILD IS IN THE PROGRAM, THEY RECEIVE BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND SNACK AT THE CENTER BASED PROGRAMS. A SNACK IS SERVED AT THE HOME BASED FAMILY DAYS TWICE A MONTH. THE COSTS OF THE MEALS ARE REIMBURSED THROUGH THE CHILD ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM.