Name of Your Cause
L.I. Child and Family Development Services, Inc., d/b/a Long Island Head Start is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization funded by the Federal Government to support children and families. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive learning environment to children, respectful of their cultures; and to assist families in reaching self-sufficiency through he combined efforts of parents, community and staff.
We educate, encourage, empower and engage the children and families to make sure they are prepared to live and participate fully in the 21st century. Through our agency children and families do get a Head Start.
The One Very Best Thing About Your Cause
Long Island Head Start has 19 Head Start and four Early Head Start programs in Suffolk County. We serve over 1650 children and families from Amityville, in Western Suffolk, to Southold, on the North Fork, and Bridgehampton, on the South Fork, of Long Island.
Our families live at poverty level or below and the expenses associated with living on Long Island makes it extremely difficult for them to thrive and prosper. The span, depth and scope of our program is incredible. We have a waiting list of 935 children and recruitment is ongoing.
The Head Start program has different content areas that work together as integrated teams to insure that the needs of the children and families are being addressed and met. Every child and family has access to the content area staff in the following areas: Education, Disabilities, Nutrition, Health, Mental Health, Family Community Partnerships, and Parent Involvement.
The content area staff are experts in their fields and are responsible for monitoring, training and technical assistance of all aspects of the Head Start/Early Head Start program. They insure that all services that are provided are comprehensive and of high quality.
As a Head Start program we are mandated to follow the Head Start Performance Standards and we have a Federal Review every three years to make sure we are in compliance with these standards. In addition each of our centers is licensed by the State of New York and we must abide by New York State Daycare Licensing Regulations as well. A unique aspect to our program is that we have collaborated with many other agencies and nonprofit organizations in order to maximize services and enhance outcomes for the children and families in Suffolk County that we serve.
Advice
Why My Cause Is So Important
We should be the cause of the week because we deal with daily the disparity in education among the wealthy and poor in the US. Our children have unique needs, impacted by economics and language barriers, and we need to insure that they enter Kindergarten with the skills necessary to succeed.
How I Got Involved With My Cause
I have been an employee of Long Island Head Start for many years and in many different positions. My dedication, commitment and passion for this agency is unwavering for I truly believe in our mission and vision and see daily the impact LIHS has on at risk children and families.
