Clinical Programs
Head Start
Background. Since 1998, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), a teaching university, has had the opportunity to administer the Head Start program in Pulaski County, Arkansas. The UAMS Department of Pediatrics became the grantee for the Pulaski County Head Start program in November of that year and today enrolls 1090 Head Start and 40 Early Head Start children and serves the interests of many more in the community.
The primary purpose of the national Head Start and Early Head Start programs – to increase the school readiness of low-income children – is a perfect match for the thre
e missions of UAMS: to teach, to search, and to serve. UAMS accomplishes both by offering more than the traditional Head Start services. The UAMS Head Start program is highly successful at helping our students prepare for school. Because of our education mission, we endeavor to promote educational opportunities beyond our students and because we are a medical education institution, we use our Head Start program to promote the health of our students, families, and community.
Educating the Community. In addition to educating children, the UAMS Head Start program provides educational opportunities to many others. The program provides service-learning opportunities to students enrolled in the UAMS Colleges of Nursing, Medicine, Health Related Professions and Public Health. These graduate level students work with our Head Start children and as a result gain valuable experience in dealing with children. Their involvement provides hands on experience and prepares them for the challenges they may face in their medical practice. We also provide tuition discounts to help our Head Start employees (and their family members) continue their education at UAMS affiliated higher education institutions.
Ensuring a Health Community. The thing that truly sets the Head Start program at UAMS apart from others is our commitment to using the Head Start program to promote the health and welfare of our community. Children enrolled in our program and their parents have access to health, nutrition, dental and mental health services from UAMS and other sources. The services, provided by our students and faculty, range from basic medical screening services to consultations with medical specialists.
Current Operations. The program currently operates 20 Head Start centers and 2 Early Head Start centers throughout Pulaski County. All centers operate 5 days per week, a minimum of 6 hours per day. The Head Start Program serves 1,090 children, ages 3 to 5 years, for 166 days and the Early Head Start centers will serve 40 children, ages birth to 3 years, for 220 days. The program targets serving those children of low income families most in need of services. We work collaboratively with the three Public School Systems within the county, such as the provision of classroom space, coordination of enrollment, referrals and staff development. One unique partnership is with the Little Rock School District where Head Start eligible students are enrolled in the District’s Pre K program and the UAMS Head Start Program provides these children with enhanced or wrap-around services in the areas of parent resources, oral health, health, mental.
Sponsorship. When Pulaski County was in jeopardy of losing funding for the Head Start Program, UAMS recognized the importance and need for this program for the people of Pulaski County and offered its leadership skills by serving as the primary investigator for the grant. This provided the university with an opportunity to broaden their outreach to a community in need. The Head Start budget has been cut as much as it can without effecting programs and services. UAMS is glad to continue to provide leadership for Head Start but it must financially stand on its own since it is not part of the UAMS budget. This planned giving by our community is a way to provide for the ongoing financial challenges of the Head Start Program and allow it to continue its critical mission of giving children and their families a head start on school and life.
Head Start is offering two types of giving opportunities to support their services:
The group class sponsorship of $600 will provide support to send pictures and notes for up to 20 people who may be contributing.
This is an opportunity to teach the value of contributing to others in the community who are less fortunate. The Sponsor can see the children’s picture and see those being helped. The children are eager to share what they are learning, their favorite things, their pets, what they want to be when they grow up, and other experiences in their lives.
This sponsorship will show the parents a community that cares and wants to see them succeed. There will be an opportunity to watch these children grow and develop as they advance through the program.
“My mom used to be a teacher’s aide with Head Start at the Kramer School. I spent a lot of time there during the summer when I was in junior high, playing basketball and watching the kids get the kind of help they needed. Head Start gave them a leg up, the kind of support that made a difference. It offered them a nurturing environment, and it had a long-term impact on those kids. I still see some of them from time to time, and they remember my mother and how much she meant to them growing up. Head Start is a very positive program and always has been.” - Sidney Moncrief former NBA All-Star and head coach of the Fort Worth (Texas) Flyers of the NBA Development League
To begin making a difference in the lives of a future generation, fill out the sponsorship form and mail to:
Melony Goodhand, Vice Chancellor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3401 W. Markham, #632
Little Rock, AR 72205-7199
Phone: 501-686-5670
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The primary purpose of the national Head Start and Early Head Start programs – to increase the school readiness of low-income children – is a perfect match for the thre
e missions of UAMS: to teach, to search, and to serve. UAMS accomplishes both by offering more than the traditional Head Start services. The UAMS Head Start program is highly successful at helping our students prepare for school. Because of our education mission, we endeavor to promote educational opportunities beyond our students and because we are a medical education institution, we use our Head Start program to promote the health of our students, families, and community. Educating the Community. In addition to educating children, the UAMS Head Start program provides educational opportunities to many others. The program provides service-learning opportunities to students enrolled in the UAMS Colleges of Nursing, Medicine, Health Related Professions and Public Health. These graduate level students work with our Head Start children and as a result gain valuable experience in dealing with children. Their involvement provides hands on experience and prepares them for the challenges they may face in their medical practice. We also provide tuition discounts to help our Head Start employees (and their family members) continue their education at UAMS affiliated higher education institutions.
Ensuring a Health Community. The thing that truly sets the Head Start program at UAMS apart from others is our commitment to using the Head Start program to promote the health and welfare of our community. Children enrolled in our program and their parents have access to health, nutrition, dental and mental health services from UAMS and other sources. The services, provided by our students and faculty, range from basic medical screening services to consultations with medical specialists.
Current Operations. The program currently operates 20 Head Start centers and 2 Early Head Start centers throughout Pulaski County. All centers operate 5 days per week, a minimum of 6 hours per day. The Head Start Program serves 1,090 children, ages 3 to 5 years, for 166 days and the Early Head Start centers will serve 40 children, ages birth to 3 years, for 220 days. The program targets serving those children of low income families most in need of services. We work collaboratively with the three Public School Systems within the county, such as the provision of classroom space, coordination of enrollment, referrals and staff development. One unique partnership is with the Little Rock School District where Head Start eligible students are enrolled in the District’s Pre K program and the UAMS Head Start Program provides these children with enhanced or wrap-around services in the areas of parent resources, oral health, health, mental.
Sponsorship. When Pulaski County was in jeopardy of losing funding for the Head Start Program, UAMS recognized the importance and need for this program for the people of Pulaski County and offered its leadership skills by serving as the primary investigator for the grant. This provided the university with an opportunity to broaden their outreach to a community in need. The Head Start budget has been cut as much as it can without effecting programs and services. UAMS is glad to continue to provide leadership for Head Start but it must financially stand on its own since it is not part of the UAMS budget. This planned giving by our community is a way to provide for the ongoing financial challenges of the Head Start Program and allow it to continue its critical mission of giving children and their families a head start on school and life.
Head Start is offering two types of giving opportunities to support their services:
- A one time contribution, which may be as much or as little as one wishes. All gifts are appreciated and are tax deductible.
- An ongoing class sponsorship of $30 a month to support an individual child, or $600 a month to support a whole class (maybe a group sponsorship). The class sponsorship includes:
- Setting up a monthly automatic check debit or credit card payment
- Sending 4 self addressed stamped envelopes.
- The class will send back quarterly artwork, pictures, and notes about their progress in the envelopes to the contributor
- The class will send a class picture with a border of autographs of the kids.
The group class sponsorship of $600 will provide support to send pictures and notes for up to 20 people who may be contributing.
This is an opportunity to teach the value of contributing to others in the community who are less fortunate. The Sponsor can see the children’s picture and see those being helped. The children are eager to share what they are learning, their favorite things, their pets, what they want to be when they grow up, and other experiences in their lives.
This sponsorship will show the parents a community that cares and wants to see them succeed. There will be an opportunity to watch these children grow and develop as they advance through the program.
“My mom used to be a teacher’s aide with Head Start at the Kramer School. I spent a lot of time there during the summer when I was in junior high, playing basketball and watching the kids get the kind of help they needed. Head Start gave them a leg up, the kind of support that made a difference. It offered them a nurturing environment, and it had a long-term impact on those kids. I still see some of them from time to time, and they remember my mother and how much she meant to them growing up. Head Start is a very positive program and always has been.” - Sidney Moncrief former NBA All-Star and head coach of the Fort Worth (Texas) Flyers of the NBA Development League
To begin making a difference in the lives of a future generation, fill out the sponsorship form and mail to:
Melony Goodhand, Vice Chancellor
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
3401 W. Markham, #632
Little Rock, AR 72205-7199
Phone: 501-686-5670
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
/
Department of Pediatrics
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Arkansas Children's Hospital
1 Children's Way, Little Rock, AR 72202
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