Keystone Human Services

Keystone Children & Family Services

Capital Area Head Start:
Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is Capital Area Head Start (CAHS) and where did it originate?
  2. What are the services that CAHS provides?
  3. What does CAHS curriculum consist of?
  4. What makes CAHS successful?
  5. Could you provide some statistics to prove Head Start's success?
  6. How is CAHS funded?
  7. Where are the other centers in Pennsylvania located?
  8. Are there other Head Start facilities located in the country?
  9. Have there been any new developments since CAHS started and what are they?
  10. What are some of the criteria for enrollment?
  11. Who do we contact for enrollment?
  12. How do parents benefit from CAHS?
  13. What do parents say about CAHS?
  14. Are there employment opportunities?
  15. How can we help?
1. What is Capital Area Head Start (CAHS) and where did it originate?
Capital Area Head Start is a comprehensive early childcare and education program serving over 800 children, from birth to school age (five years old), and their families in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties.
Keystone Service Systems, Inc. DBA Capital Area Head Start became the Head Start grantee for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry Counties in 1988. Since that time, the program has grown from 245 families to over 800. Throughout the more than 20-year history, the program has held a firm commitment to developing and providing comprehensive services to meet the needs of children and families in the community. These comprehensive services cover health, education and disabilities, mental health, parent involvement and social services. Capital Area Head Start provides home based, center based, and full day program options for pregnant women and children ages birth through five. Programs for teen parents, incarcerated mothers or fathers, families experiencing homelessness and children with disabilities, among others, are available. ↑
2. What are the services that CAHS provide?
Part Day Preschool Services
Children enrolled in a part day preschool program attend four half-days a week from September through June. Families receive two to four home visits and two conferences per year. Preschool services provided at Harrisburg School District sites operate five 5-hour days a week. Families also receive three home visits and two conferences per year. Childcare is provided by local childcare providers on site before and after school for families working or in training.
Childcare Services
Childcare services are provided to children ranging in age from 6 weeks to five years for families whose parents are working, are in job training, or are attending school. Children attend the program for full days throughout the entire year. Two home visits and two parent-child conferences are held.
Home Based Services
Families with children enrolled in a Head Start Home Based program receive three home visits per month and the parent and child attend weekly socialization days with other families. Preschool home based services operate from September to June. Birth to three or Early Head Start home based services operate year round. These families receive weekly home visits and bi-weekly family (socialization) days.
Early Head Start
The Early Head Start program serves children from birth to age three. These services include a program available in educational centers or at home, as well as childcare services in the community. ↑
3. What does CAHS curriculum consist of?
Planning around children's interests, strengths and developmental needs
Regular observation and on-going educational assessment
Hands-on interactive learning
Language and literacy enrichment
A variety of materials and equipment
Safe, organized, child-friendly environment
Individualized programming
Sensory exploration
Problem solving
Adult support
Consistent daily routine
Responsive, relationship-based caregiving  ↑
4. What makes CAHS successful?
Comprehensive services
Federal Head Start performance standards that are monitored annually
Services that meet the needs of individual children and families as well as the needs of the local communities
Staff and parent commitment to the program and their “can do” approach and initiative ↑
5. Could you provide some statistics to prove Head Start's success?
National enrollment went from 561,000 in 1965 to 750,696 in 1995 and then to 908,412 in 2007.
Today, there are 1,604 programs across the country.
13% of the enrollment consists of children with disabilities.
29% of Head Start staff are former parents.
55% of Head Start families have annual incomes of less than $9,000.00.
1,450,000 people so far have volunteered their time to Head Start.
A 2010 national research study found that Head Start works. When compared to the control group, Head Start children are significantly more prepared for school than their peers.
A 1997 nationwide research finding indicated that:
  • Head Start classroom quality is good.
  • Head Start children are ready for school.
  • Program quality is linked to child performance.
  • Head Start families are involved despite the challenges.
(These statistics come from www.NHSA.org/research.) ↑
6. How is CAHS funded?
CAHS is primarily a federally-funded program. In 1998, the federal Head Start budgert was 4.6 billion. Today, the budget stands at 6.8 billion (2007). In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Education provides funding for 162 students. View our Annual Accomplishments for more information about our funding. ↑
7. Where are the other centers in Pennsylvania located?
Head Start programs are available in 65 counties Pennsylvania. CAHS has 23 centers in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry Counties, which include home based, childcare and Early Head Start programs. More information is available from the Pennsylvania Head Start Association. ↑
8. Are there other Head Start facilities located in the country?
There are Head Start facilities in all 50 states in the United States. More information is available from the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center. ↑
9. Have there been any new developments since CAHS started and what are they?
Since 2002, CAHS has partnered with the Harrisburg School District and local child care providers to operate early childhood classrooms in elementary schools in Harrisburg. The Harrisburg Preschool Program (HPP), now in its eighth year, includes 32 classrooms throughout the District, in which children ages 3 and 4 receive high quality, comprehensive preschool and family support within a public school setting. Community child care providers offer before and after school care for children of working parents to supplement the 5-hour instructional day. With 16 children and 2 teachers per classroom, the program offers maximum opportunities for individualizing for the success of all students. The program is funded by several sources. Head Start State Supplemental Assistance Program and PA Pre K Counts funds, as well as Federal Head Start monies and the Harrisburg School District operating budget, all provide significant funding. Businesses and community organizations provide additional support in recognition of the great benefits to the community that high quality preschool can provide.
Another noteworthy initiative has been the successful partnership between Dr. Mark Greenberg of the Penn State University Prevention Research Center and Capital Area Head Start. A Head Start/University Partnership Grant was received to design a preschool version of Dr. Greenberg's social-emotional curriculum called Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS). The first year was spent designing the curriculum for preschoolers, the second year was spent conducting research on the efficacy of the curriculum, and the third year PATHS was implemented program wide. Preliminary reports demonstrate that the curriculum is effective in helping young children develop alternatives to aggressive behavior. ↑
10. What are some of the criteria's for enrollment?
Income guidelines. CAHS follow the poverty guidelines. CAHS do accept over-income families, only when there are no income-eligible families available.
Age. Early Head Start accepts pregnant women and children ages birth to three. Head Start accepts children ages three to five.
Interest. CAHS is looking for children and families who are interested in participating in the program. ↑
11. Who do we contact for enrollment?
We have enrollment specialists specially prepared to answer all your questions. They can also perform enrollments over the telephone, where you are placed on a waiting list until a suitable space is available for you. You can reach the enrollment specialists at 717-541-1795. ↑
12. How do parents benefit from CAHS?
The CAHS program helps to get parents out of crisis and stabilizes the family.
CAHS promotes positive parent self-esteem and develops leadership skills.
CAHS facilitates parent literacy, employment, and self-sufficiency.
Many parents enroll in High School Equivalency courses and Job Training programs while their children are enrolled in Head Start.
100% of our Head Start parents volunteer in the program which translates into valuable job training experience.
25% of the paid staff at CAHS have been parents in the program. ↑
13. What do parents say about CAHS?
"The Head Start staff really takes an interest in not only my child but also my family and we really appreciate their concern."
"Good Job!" "Well Done!" "My child is much more confident."
"We are extremely pleased with our child's progress and the overall professionalism of the staff." ↑
14. Are there employment opportunities?
Please visit our website for employment opportunities.
Both entry level positions and professional positions are available.
We offer competitive salaries and benefits.
We also offer on the job training, including college courses, on site. ↑
15. How can we help?
Schedule a Head Start speaker at your community or church group.
Volunteer your time.
"Adopt" a Head Start Center.
Assist with one of our many initiatives.
Work with one of our many parent groups.
Make a donation for a special project or a holiday gift for a child. ↑
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This page last updated on:
May 11, 2010