DUNKIRK, N.Y. -- Chautauqua Opportunities Incorporated was recently awarded a $1.3 million federal grant to expand its early head start program across the county.
The money will allow the agency to serve more families and partner with other daycare providers to expand additional sites in Westfield and Silver Creek.
"This really expands the quality of services, the availability of services, the ability for families, particularly with new infants and toddlers to work," said Matthew Hamilton-Kraft, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc., head start director.
The full-day year-round program currently serves 40 children in its Dunkirk center, and 42 home-based kids from six weeks of age to three years old.
The grant will now allow Chautauqua Opportunities to create 80 more center slots and expand the program into Jamestown.
"The kids benefit, the parents benefit, and the schools benefit, and now in this model, the community and our daycare partners, they benefit," said Hamilton-Kraft.
"The goal of early head start is to prepare them for when they transition into head start or an alternate UPK," said Sandra Sheridan, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc., curriculum and data analyst.
Program leaders said early head start uses a creative curriculum, and plans individual lessons based on a child's stage of development. The agency also works closely with area school districts to make sure the kids are on a level playing field when they reach kindergarten.
"We've taken our early head start where we do the creative curriculum and then they transition into our head start program, where we introduce the Common Core," said Sheridan.
"They're ready for school at a much higher level, their socialization skills are much stronger, their academic and cognitive skills are stronger," said Hamilton-Kraft
The center looks to welcome the new children in late spring and early summer.