Hohudul’eh Bayoh Indigenous Head Start

Philosophy

We believe in providing a safe, nurturing, culturally active space where each individual child is cared for, encouraged, and supported. We provide a holistic and safe environment with a focus on six key components; Culture & Language, Education, Health Promotion, Nutrition, Social Support, and Parental & Family Involvement. Within these components, we support spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth in every Aboriginal child, whilst respecting and incorporating their respective First Nation community. By providing a caring, creative, and proud environment, intertwined with traditional community beliefs, we hope to promote lifelong learning. 

 

Hohudul’eh Bayoh Indigenous Head Start Mission Statement:

We believe in following six key components; Culture and Language, Education, Health Promotion, Nutrition, Social Support, and Parental and Family Involvement. We believe in respecting, honoring, and promoting every child’s spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical growth.

 

Program Description

The Indigenous Head Start programs are supported by Aboriginal Head Start funds. Our programs are designed to provide quality early development within a holistic and safe environment based on caring, creativity and pride following from the knowledge of their traditional community beliefs. The programs are focused around six key components; Culture and Language, Education, Health Promotion, Nutrition, Social Support, and Parental and Family Involvement.

Component 1 – Culture & Language:

Head Start will promote and encourage children to aspire to learn their respective languages and participate in their communities’ cultures during and after Indigenous Head Start.

Component 2 – Education:

Head Start will encourage each child to take initiative in learning and provide each child with enjoyable opportunities to learn, which we hope will foster each child’s enthusiasm, self-esteem, and initiative to continue learning in the future.

Component 3 – Health Promotion:

Head Start will encourage practices for self-care, working together to address health concerns and the creation of formal and informal social support networks.

Component 4 – Nutrition:

Head Start will ensure that children are provided with food which will help meet their nutritional needs, and to educate staff and parents about the relationship of nutrition to children’s ability to learn, play, and grow.

Component 5 – Social Support:

Head Start will ensure that families are made aware of resources and community services that are available to help impact their quality of life. Head Start will assist families in accessing resources and services. Head Start will collaborate with resources and services to create opportunities within the center.

Component 6 – Parental & Family Involvement:

Head Start will support and acknowledge parents and guardians as their children's primary teachers. Head Start will provide opportunities to empower parents to be involved as valuable contributors to the program, supporting them to become role models for children and their communities.

 

Our objectives are to:

• Provide a program that is safe, inviting, and friendly
• Support the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of each Indigenous child;
• Support and encourage each Indigenous child to enjoy lifelong learning, including Indigenous language and culture;
• To support parents and guardians as the primary teachers and caregivers of their children;
• Empower parents to play a major part in planning, developing, operating and evaluating the Head Start program;
• Recognize and support the role of extended family in teaching and caring for Indigenous children;
• Include the broader Indigenous community as part of the project throughout all of its stages;
• Make sure the project works with and is supported by other community programs and services;
• Make sure the resources are used in the best way possible in order to produce measurable and positive outcomes for Indigenous children, their parents, families, and communities;
• Promote and encourage healthy and nutrition habits.

 

Registrations

Hohudul’eh Bayoh Indigenous Head Start is a program designed for Indigenous identifying children and their families. Aboriginal, Metis, and Inuit children welcome.

Registration packages will be accessible at the Head Start office in Vanderhoof. Registration packages MUST be completed with all the supporting documentation prior to your child attending the Head Start.

 

Wait Lists

Head Start will have a grading system to follow registration. The grading system will be as follows:

• Parents/guardians working or going to school ~ 5 points
• Single parent/guardian ~ 5 points
• Foster family with Aboriginal Children ~5 points
• Child with Diverse Needs ~5 points
• Total= _______

Families will be given spaces according to how they place on the grading system. Higher totals would get priority spaces. Any spare spaces will be allocated during the year, as they become available, in order of the grading system.

When space becomes available the parent of the child next on the list, according to priority access, will be contacted.  If the center is unable to make contact with the parent after one week, the space will be offered to the next child on the waitlist.  It is the parents’ responsibility to keep the center updated as to any changes of address, phone numbers or any other pertinent information while on the waitlist.

Fees & Subsidy

This is a NO FEE program.

 

Operation Hours
The Head Start is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Contact Information
2994 Burrard Avenue
Vanderhoof, BC
V0J 3A0

Telephone: 250-567-5675

Cell:            3-5 room 250-570-8134
                   0-3 room 250-567-8143
                   IHS Coordinator 250-570-8480

Email: jtejero@csfs.org 

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Last modified: Tuesday 04-Jul-23 08:42:05 PDT