Research indicates the first three years of life are the most critical to a child's lifelong development. The Early Head Start Program responds by providing important services to families of infants and toddlers, and to expectant mothers. Both center-based and home-based options are available year-round. The four cornerstones of this program include: child development, family development, community building and staff development. Early Head Start seeks to enhance children's physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. In addition, families are supported in fulfilling their roles as parents and in reaching self-sufficiency.
The Laguna Child Care Program services are offered at both Head Start sites. Quality, educational "wrap-around" child care services are provided to infants and toddlers who are enrolled in the Early Head Start center-based program. Drop-in child care services are available as teacher:child ratios allow. Child care services run from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. before the Early Head Start program begins and after the program end from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Child Care services are provided to children of parents who are working and/or attend training/educational programs for a minimum of 20 hours per week. Priority is given to children with special needs, those in protective custody or foster care, and TANF recipients. Services are based on a sliding fee scale reflective of individual family size and income.
Health and safety inspections are conducted yearly by the Indian Health Service Environmental Health Division. A staff development program for Child Care staff is implemented in collaboration with the Head Start programs.
An annual public hearing is held each Spring to provide tribal residents with an opportunity to comment on the provision of child care services under the Child Care Development Fund Pre-Print Plan.
