The founders of Head Start have always viewed parents as critical partners in educating young children. They also understood this partnership meant parents should help decide which services would most benefit their families and communities. As a result, Head Start created a formal leadership and policymaking role for parents and community members called the Policy Council.
Head Start parent, Policy Council member and alumna Olivia Harvey recently shared her story:
A few years ago, my daughter Maliya was 6 years old and had just started kindergarten after graduating from the Children First Head Start program in Sarasota County, Florida. It was hard to believe we’d reached this major milestone, but with all the love, care and guidance she received from her incredible teachers, I’m confident she will continue to blossom and thrive. Children First and Head Start have always been close to my heart and my family’s hearts. My husband Malik is also a proud Head Start graduate along with some family members. He’s a wonderful support system and understands our shared mission of raising the healthiest, happiest family possible. Our lives center around family, and in addition to Maliya, we have two other children, our sons Jeremiah and King. When we had our kids, we knew we didn’t have to look far to find quality, affordable child care with amazing teachers we could trust. With the challenges we faced, we knew we could turn to Children First’s Head Start program to help us find our path to success.
My family has been involved with Children First since Jeremiah was a toddler. Our family advocate, Ernestine, was there for Maliya and our entire family every step of the way. I know that even when my daughter is in high school, Ernestine will be there in a heartbeat if we need anything. The teachers care deeply about the kids, and they never forget their faces. One day, Maliya came home with a photo taken by her teacher, Miss LaTonda. It was a baby picture of me because Miss LaTonda had been my teacher as well. I couldn’t believe she had kept it all these years! It was such a special memory to share with my daughter, and moments like this let me know we will always be part of the Children First family. Through Head Start, I also found support personally and as a parent. Due to the pandemic, I had reduced hours and was forced to seek other employment. During this time, I needed something that would let me feel professional and help me keep my skills up while offering flexibility to be a mom.
Luckily, Children First was offering a Job Skills Training Course as part of the agency’s Family Strengthening services. The class was perfect because it provided accountability and belonging. I learned about identifying and overcoming employment obstacles, with special focus on resume writing, interviews and succeeding in the first 90 days at a new job, which has benefited me! After a mock interview with my vocational family advocate Laura and her colleagues, I felt confident with the skills I had learned, and I decided to reach a higher goal in the workforce. I was offered a position at Sarasota School of the Arts & Sciences, where I work as a paraprofessional. While working full time, I’ve also had the opportunity to earn my bachelor’s degree to become a history or math teacher. My ambitions have led me to be a working professional, full-time mom and student, but I’m not stopping there. In the future, I would like to earn my master’s degree and work as an administrator, with one ultimate goal being to run for the school board.
Because of Children First, Head Start and my vocational coach, Laura, it feels like a new world of possibilities has opened. While unexpectedly unemployed but fighting to stay engaged, I was supported every step. Laura and the team at Children First continue to guide me and my family on our journey to success. Although we still face unique challenges, I feel grateful and am proud of how far we’ve come. Because Malik and I were able to grow and thrive in a healthy environment at the earliest stages of our lives, our children’s lives have been transformed. Right now, some parents, families and caregivers are struggling financially and socially. They need lower child care prices, full workday hours with child care coverage, and free transportation to and from day care.
Head Start is a changemaker for all communities. Child by child, family by family, the seeds that are sowed continue to blossom as they stretch higher toward the sunshine. Their promise is simple: Every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, can reach their full potential. As I look to the future — from my youngest child thriving, to earning my teaching degree, to raising my beautiful children alongside my husband and beyond — I know that thanks to Head Start, there is nothing to fear.
