Knox County Head Start Inc

Head Start is a federally funded, comprehensive developmental preschool program for income eligible children ages three to five and their families. Knox County Head Start, Inc. receives grants from the Federal Department of Health and Human Services for the operation of the program. In the 2023-2024 School Year, Knox County Head Start served 190 children in 149 funded Head Start slots; 73 of those children transitioned to kindergarten in Fall 2024. Twenty-seven (27) children served received special education and related services under an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Children received screenings for health issues, including physicals, lead and hemoglobin screenings, speech, hearing and developmental screenings, dental screenings, and mental health screenings. Eighty (80) children, or 42% of children served, required follow up medical care, and 74, or 92.5%, of those children received the follow up care needed. Twenty-eight (28) children, or 14.7% of children served, required follow up dental care, and 25 of those children received the care needed, for a follow up rate of 89.3%. This was the highest dental follow up rate ever recorded.

The Child and Adult Care Food program provides support for children's meals for children attending licensed child care centers, including Head Start, Early Head Start and child care classrooms. Knox County Head Start ensures that children participating in all classrooms have access to nutritious meals, including a variety of foods served that introduce children to new food options and offer balanced meals. Meals are served family style to encourage children's healthy development. Children in full day classrooms receive breakfast, lunch and snack. Children served in half day preschool classrooms receive either breakfast and lunch in morning classrooms or lunch and snack in afternoon classrooms. Additionally, KCHS provides information to parents about healthy eating and the importance of exercise and movement as part of both the Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Other program services include the Child Care Program and Corporate Activities. The Child Care program incorporates Head Start Performance Standards into full year/full day care for infants through preschool, with Head Start programming for preschoolers, and Early Head Start programming for infants and toddlers. Child Care services are also provided at one location for school age before and after school care, and full-time school age care during most snow days, school holidays and summer months.