Encompass Early Education and Care is partnering with Family and Child Learning Centers of Northeast Wisconsin, Inc (a federal Head Start grantee) to provide comprehensive Head Start programming at our Oconto Falls location. Since 1965, Head Start programs have reached 40 million children and their families.
Understanding the demands on working families, Oconto Falls Center Lead Director Jessie Mommaerts says that their “one-stop shop” allows families to access Head Start as well as wraparound care through Encompass all in one place. This flexibility allows parents to maintain employment while ensuring their children receive consistent, high-quality early education.
“Phenomenal place! Staff is the best!” exclaims one Oconto Falls Center parent. “My son loves going to daycare and loves his teachers! They work with the school district for my son’s speech therapy, he is also in Head Start, and is also enrolled in the daycare! All at one place! I never leave feeling worried about my child!” This parent’s experience exemplifies the center’s inclusive approach to seamlessly incorporate Head Start students into a typical preschool classroom. This inclusive environment ensures all children, regardless of their program enrollment, learn and grow together in a unified setting that promotes equal educational opportunities.
Heat Start programs help children get ready to succeed in school and in life through learning experiences tailored to their changing needs and abilities. The program emphasizes development across five crucial domains: approaches to learning, social and emotional development, language and literacy, cognition, and physical development. Through a combination of play, creative expression, and guided activities, children engage in learning experiences that foster their growth.
Health and wellness form a cornerstone of the program’s comprehensive services. From the moment of enrollment in Head Start, children receive screenings for hearing, vision, dental, and physical health. If needed, the families can be given automatic referrals for follow-up health care. The Head Start program also provides extensive family support services, including parenting resources, at-home activities and lesson plans, and connections to community and federal assistance programs.
The center is also looking at forming a Parent Council of Head Start families at the beginning of next school year to create a space for resource sharing and learning amongst enrolled families.
The center maintains strong community partnerships, working closely with the local school district and Birth to Three programs as key referring partners. These relationships help create a seamless support system for families and ensure children who could benefit from Head Start services are identified and connected with the program.
The impact of Head Start programs is well-documented. Research shows that children who participate in Head Start demonstrate improved school readiness, better social skills, and healthier development outcomes. Currently, the Oconto Falls Center has reached its classroom capacity and maintains a waiting list, reflecting both the program’s success and the community’s strong demand for quality early education services. For families interested in learning more about Head Start eligibility and enrollment opportunities at the Encompass Oconto Falls Center, they are encouraged to visit the center’s webpage or call the Lead Director Jessie Mommaerts at 920-848-3206.
