Headstart
Child Development & Family Services Programs
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Head Start/State Preschool:
Inyo Mono Advocates for Community Action, Inc. (IMACA) operates 6 center-based preschool facilities in 5 communities in Inyo and Mono Counties of the Eastern Sierra of California. Centers are located in Lone Pine, Bishop (2), Mammoth, Lee Vining and Coleville.
- State Preschool is a program funded through the California Department of Education. The purpose of the program is to ready four year-olds for kindergarten, by providing a 3 hour pre-kindergarten enrichment opportunity for income eligible families with four year-olds being the priority age group. Three year-old children are the second priority age group once all four year-olds are served. Children who attend our early childhood program participate in a variety of developmentally appropriate learning activities within stimulating environments that lay a foundation for social, emotional and cognitive competence for school success.
- Head Start provides an opportunity to partner with State Preschool at several of its locations to extend the school day from a 3.5 hour day to 6.5 hours. This extended school day works to better meet the needs of the families and children served, including healthy meals and snacks. Head Start focuses on comprehensive services to promote healthy patterns of growth and development. Head Start is family focused and is founded on the premise that parents are the child’s first and most important teacher. Children receive developmental, medical, dental, vision, hearing and nutrition screening with appropriate follow-up services.
Services are provided to meet the special needs of children with disabilities. Head Start encourages community involvement in the Head Start program through donations, in-kind support and volunteering.