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WHO WE ARE:

The Wisconsin Head Start Association (WHSA) is a private not-for-profit membership organization representing more than 16,000 children and upwards of 3,900 staff composing the 56 Head Start/Early Head Start programs in Wisconsin.  It is governed by an elected 15-member Board of Directors composed of director, staff and parent representatives and also includes the immediate past President of the Board.  WHSA works to continue to strengthen Head Start and Early Head Start programs for the benefit of children and families through advocacy, professional development, and strategic alliances.

Head Start is a federal program for preschool children primarily from low-income families.  A network of community-based, non-profit corporations, Indian reservation governments, school districts, Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs), county government, and a university administer the Wisconsin Head Start programs. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities.  They also receive free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting.  Head Start helps all children succeed.  Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities.  Most children in Head Start are between the ages of three and five years old. Services are also available to infants and toddlers in selected sites through the Early Head Start program option.  In Wisconsin, 14 programs offer Early Head Start.  Head Start and Early Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children and by extending health education, nutrition, social, and other services to family members.

Head Start provides a comprehensive child development program for young children and their families.  The program areas include child health and development, family and community partnerships, and program governance and management.  Head Start is family-centered and community-based, providing developmentally appropriate activities for children and support for parents in their work and child-rearing roles.  Since its inception in 1965, Head Start nationwide has served over 22 million children and their families.  For fiscal year 2008, Head Start was federally funded at over $6.8 billion and served over 908,000 children and their families nationwide.  In Wisconsin during program year 2008, state and federal funding ensured over 16,000 children and their families received the benefits of participation in Head Start.
 

OUR VISION:

We are an association of leaders dedicated to assuring the availability of comprehensive top quality services for children and families in our state.  We will accomplish this through advocacy, the delivery of professional development services, and the creation of unique resources for people and organizations committed to families.

WHSA BOARD DIRECTORY :

 

 

 

 

 

CONTACT US:

Wisconsin Head Start Association
122 East Olin Avenue, Suite 110
Madison, WI 53713
Phone: 608-442-6879
Fax: 608-442-7672
Shelley Cousin, Executive Director
cousin@whsaonline.org