In October 1993, Kansas City Head Start project created Full Start, a pilot project with two neighborhood child care centers. Full Start is an expansion program to enable a wider range of needy children otherwise not eligible for Head Start to benefit from comprehensive services. Full Start parents are treated as equal partners participating in…

Lists candidates for National Head Start Association (NHSA) elected positions and announces four new awards sponsored by the NHSA. Recognizes the Missouri State Highway Patrol for its work with Head Start children. Presents a draft report on the NHSA Quality Initiative, a system designed to promote quality in Head Start and to provide challenges…

Describes a new organization called LInking Networks for KidS (LINKS). Formed by the National Head Start Association and 13 national early childhood organizations, this national consortium promotes comprehensive services and supports for developmentally vulnerable young children and their families. LINKS goals and member organizations are listed.…

Highlights the efforts of 11 Kiwanis groups across the country who have formed partnerships with Head Start centers. Sponsored activities described include (1) reading and literacy programs; (2) building and maintenance projects for centers and playgrounds; (3) a health fair; (4) a family sports event; and (5) donations of time, labor, books,…

Describes new services offered by the Community Action Agency of Franklin County, New York, after carefully listening to Head Start families. The agency now operates programs that successfully address problems Head Start families and other members of the community are having with housing, nutrition, domestic violence, and emergency assistance.…

Discusses the Free to Grow initiative, a five-year program aimed at increasing the capacity of Head Start to help prevent substance abuse. The collaborative program is designed to assist a number of local Head Start programs to develop and implement model substance abuse prevention projects that will strengthen both the families and neighborhoods…

Describes three-hour "Fun Day" workshops implemented to increase parent participation in Head Start workshops. Notes three factors of program success: (1) parents received attractive invitation from child; (2) invitation guaranteed adult would have fun with child; and (3) every family received a gift. Describes workshop activities and…

Describes a hospital-based Head Start center in Paterson, New Jersey, that exclusively serves children who have AIDS. The only such center in the state, it is a cooperative effort of the local Head Start program and hospital. For most of the students, it is the first opportunity to interact with their peers in a healthy, normal environment. (TJQ)

Responds to criticism of Head Start by outlining Head Start's goals and design; reviewing research studies of the program's effectiveness; discussing the cost of funding quality programs; and providing examples of expanded Head Start programs that serve infants, toddlers, and school age children, and examples of creative uses of supplementary…