EWU EHS Fact Sheet
What is the national Early Head Start program?
- Federal grant funded program through the DHHS ACF Head Start Bureau
- Promotes school readiness by enhancing the cognitive development of low income children, age 0 to 3, through the provision of health, education, disabilities, nutrition and social services to children, pregnant women and their families. (Head Start serves children 3-5 years of age).
- Nationally about 9% of Head Start slots (or 81,000 children and pregnant women) are in Early Head Start programs
What is the Eastern Washington University Early Head Start (EWU EHS) program?
- Serves a minimum of 116 low-income pregnant women, infants and toddlers in home-based and center-based program options in Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties (the Tri-Counties of Northeast Washington). See Service Area Map
- $1.7 million per year federal grant
- Employs approximately 30 full time EWU staff members, over 80% live and work in the Tri-Counties plus additional part-time employees and subcontractors
- EWU has provided infant and toddler services in the Tri-Counties since 1992.
Why do the Tri-Counties need Early Head Start?
High population of low-income pregnant women, infants and toddlers who are at risk for educational, health, nutrition and social issues due to risk factors associated with poverty and a lack of health, nutrition, education and social services in a vast rural service area
- Tri-Counties are a remote and isolated service area encompassing over 6,000 square miles See Service Area Map
- 50% of children in Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties live in households with incomes under the federal poverty level
- The Tri-Counties are medically underserved areas with NO pediatrician or obstetrician in the entire 3 counties
- Significantly limited social, dental, medical and mental health services throughout the Tri-Counties
- EWU EHS is the only comprehensive child development and health program for infants and toddlers in Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties
What does EWU Early Head Start do for children and families in the Tri-Counties?
- Provides home-based services and classes for pregnant women, children and families in locations throughout the Tri-Counties including Republic, Northport, Ione, Newport, Colville, Kettle Falls and South Stevens County
- Provides and/or coordinates disabilities, nutrition, child development and parent education, health and mental health services by going to the families homes and communities
- The EWU EHS Governing Board shares the governance of the program with a Policy Council made up of 9 Early Head Start parents and 4 community representatives