Head Start Preschool

West Texas Opportunities, Inc. serves as a grantee for the Head Start Preschool program. What many don’t know is that WTO oversees 6 programs located in Andrews, Crane, Lamesa, McCamey, Seminole, and Stanton. WTO Head Start began in the mid-sixties growing into what it is today. We serve a total of 239 Head Start children and families in these six counties and employs 90 staff members providing high-quality comprehensive services. Our program works closely with the local school districts in each county ensuring that children are receiving any additional educational or Special Education services they may need to strengthen school readiness.

Head Start programs support children’s growth through services that support early learning and development, health, and family well-being. Head Start staff actively engage parents, recognizing family participation throughout the program as key to strong child outcomes.

Head Start services are available at no cost to children in eligible families. Head Start preschool services work with families with children ages 3 to 5. The Head Start Preschool continually works toward our mission for eligible children and families to receive high-quality services in safe and healthy settings that prepare children for school and life.

We strive to build strong relationships as the foundational driver for early learning. We work to engage families in their child’s learning and recognizing parents as a child’s first and most influential teacher.

The Head Start Preschool program focuses on five key domains: approaches to learning, social and emotional development, language and literacy, cognition, and physical development. We provide welcoming learning environments both indoor and outdoor through play, creative expression, and guided activities with schedules and lesson plans. Ongoing screenings and assessments are conducted to ensure that each child is making progress.

Family style meals including breakfast, lunch, and snack are provided where the children serve themselves. Children receive medical, dental, hearing, vision, and behavioral screenings. All children brush teeth daily promoting oral health and hygiene. Mental Health services are provided for children as well as their families when needed often times helping them heal from traumatic experiences or overwhelming situations.

Family Services are provided supporting parental health, connecting them to local community resources and federal assistance. Head Start works with each family to identify goals they want to pursue such as housing, employment, and education. We work to engage parents to be their child’s life long advocate. Parent involvement opportunities are provided through monthly parent meetings with specific topics, family nights, male engagement activities, socializations, and volunteering.

Eligible participants include children whose families meet the federal low-income guidelines that is, whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty guidelines or who participate in TANF and SSI. Other eligible participants include children in the foster care system or experiencing homelessness. Our program can also accept a limited number of children who do not meet any of those criteria. Across all six counties, WTO HS can accept 35% of families in the 101-130% of the poverty guidelines as well as 10% of those who are over income.

Interested families can contact one of the centers to work with a case manager to submit an application to enroll.