CAA Head Start Awareness day

Thirty-seven years ago, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October as Head Start Awareness Month.
Today his words still vibrate throughout the Head Start community.
The week of Oct. 21 was Head Start Awareness Week, and St. Mary/Vermilion CAA observed it with an abundance of activities, including Fun Day in the Park at Caffery Park on Barrow Street in Franklin. Monday was Red, White and Blue Day and a Head Start proclamation signing by local mayors and the parish president. Another proclamation signing was held at Baby Bear Head Start Center for the mayors of Berwick, Patterson and Morgan City. Literacy Awareness was Monday as local officials and community representatives were asked to select a Head Start Center to visit and read a story to the children.
The week culminated with the Head Start Awareness FUN Day. Community partners participating include Teche Action Clinic, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, Anytime Fitness, the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce, Teche Regional and Franklin Foundation Hospitals and Scruff McGruff.
St. Mary CAA also invited fathers, father figures, elderly citizens and locally owned businesses to participate and display the community resources and programs available to the public through partnership with St. Mary Community Action Agency.
St. Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency/Head Start Program has strived to build on the Head Start success by involving parents, volunteers and the community. Their commitment for nearly 54 years and the services provided by dedicated Head Start staff have been instrumental in creating a quality program that truly provides young children with a “head start” in life. The National Head Start Program has helped over eight million low-income pre-school children and their families. In so doing, it has earned recognition and support for its success in early childhood education and development.