FeedsAmid economy, Headstart grows
Demand for Headstart slots for Inkster toddlers and school children in other areas is increasing exponentially this year, according to numbers released by a non-profit group that administers the program in several cities.
Inkster-based Starfish Family Services, which operates three Headstart programs in Inkster, Dearborn Heights, Livonia, Plymouth and Canton Township, said numbers have increased amid a bad economy, which has increased eligibility for enrollment in Headstart.
“We’re hearing from several formerly working parents that they have lost their job,” said Cynthia Box-Foley, the administrator of Headstart for Starfish.
“We track our numbers, and we’ve never had this many students enrolled at this point in the year,” said Foley. “We have more people enrolled in many of our programs that we’ve never seen fill up this fast before.”
Headstart, which began serving economically disadvantaged children all over the United States in the 1960s, is administered by Wayne County. The goal of the program is to psychologically and physically prepare young children for school.
As of Aug. 27, Starfish has enrolled 544 3- and 4-year-olds at various centers, which significantly outpaces the Aug. 20 number of 529 for 2006.
The increase in enrollment is at Discovery Academy, a charter school on Inkster Road. This year, 263 students are enrolled in classes, versus 238 in August 2006.
The other Headstart locations are paced equally with last year. In both 2006 and 2007, the Dearborn Heights location enrolled 85 students, and the Plymouth-Canton location enrolled 104 students.
The Livonia location is behind last the 2006 numbers, with 92 students as opposed to 102.
Councilwoman DeArtriss-Coleman Richardson said the increase is an ominous sign about employment, but is glad the Headstart will pick up children that may otherwise fall through the cracks.
“I try to look at this from a different perspective,” she said. “It’s bad that more parents are losing income, but it’s good that more children will get education and training earlier. It’s good that more parents are qualifying for that service.”
High unemployment levels have been a problem in the city since 2001. Since then, the unemployment level has hovered around 9 percent. That number, however, is two percentage points above the state average of about 7 percent.
Foley said she expects the remaining slots for Inkster students will fill up quickly, leaving Starfish to pull funding from other areas to provide room for more students.
“We’re mandated for 633 students,” she said. “That funding doesn’t go up.”
Headstart functions much like a pre-school, and addresses literacy, health and nutrition needs of children ages 3 and 4 years old. There are also several programs for parents such as health care, employment services, and housing assistance.
Parents must meet state-mandated low-income requirements to enroll children in Headstart.
