Designated as a Program of Excellence by the National Head Start Association

PHOENIX (Aug. 26, 2009)—Catholic Charities Westside Head Start program and its Maricopa County Head Start partner were recognized by the National Head Start Association (NHSA) as a Program of Excellence for the delivery of high quality developmental programs to disadvantaged children newborn to age 5.

“We commend Maricopa County Head Start, its partner organizations and their staffs for providing high quality services to children and families and thank them for their participation in the NHSA Quality Initiative,” says Yasmina Vinci, executive director of NHSA.

Head Start is the most successful, longest-running, national school readiness program in the United States.  Maricopa County Head Start is a partnership of Maricopa County Human Services Department and Catholic Charities Community Services. Together they provide comprehensive child development programs to disadvantaged children in east and west Maricopa County.

The program emphasizes pre-reading, language, math, cognitive skills, health, and social and emotional competence to prepare disadvantaged children for school. Services are provided by qualified, well-trained teachers in classroom and home settings. Parents are strongly engaged in learning activities to fully support their child’s development.

“We are thrilled to receive this distinction. It demonstrates the quality of our program and of our staff,” says Beth Onufrak, Ph. D., Catholic Charities Community Services board member and child psychologist. “Our Head Start program is a transformative resource for families in need and sets young lives on the right path for health, learning and relationships.”

Catholic Charities Westside Head Start currently serves 1,077 children in homes and 54 classrooms throughout western Maricopa County. Over 90 percent of the children come from families living in poverty and 11 percent have disabilities.

Initiated in 1994, NHSA's Quality Initiative identifies and recognizes Head Start/Early Head Start programs that demonstrate a level of high performance and whose programs demonstrate a positive impact on the children, families, staff, and communities they serve.

There are two levels of recognition - Program of Achievement and Program of Excellence. All programs must apply for Program of Achievement before they can apply for Program of Excellence. Once recognized, programs maintain their designation for three years. Programs of Excellence serve as models for Head Start/Early Head Start programs nationwide.

About Catholic Charities Community Services

Founded in 1933, Catholic Charities Community Services is one of Arizona’s oldest social service organizations, serving people of all backgrounds and faiths with a diverse range of social services to strengthen families, protect and nurture children, and to support people in crisis.Impacting the lives of more than 200,000 people in central and northern Arizona every year,Catholic Charities Community Services is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Children and Family Services and is a member organization of Catholic Charities USA. To learn more visit CatholicCharitiesAZ.org.

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