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News Release

Oregon Department Of Early Learning And Care Celebrates Head Start Awareness Month - 10/07/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Oct 7, 2025

Contact:

Kate Gonsalves, (503) 428-7292

delc.media@delc.oregon.gov

Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Celebrates
Head Start Awareness Month

SALEM, ORE. –The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) and the Oregon Head Start Association (OHSA) visited a Head Start of Lane County preschool classroom located at Lane Community College.

“For over 60 years, Head Start has provided children and families with more than quality early childhood education; it has become a generational building block that has touched the lives of more than 40 million children and families across the United States,” said Charleen Strauch, Executive Director, Head Start of Lane County. “The crucial work of Head Start is knowing that when the family and child succeed then the community succeeds. Head Start changes lives for the positive.”

Earlier this month Governor Kotek issued a statewide proclamation officially designating October as Head Start Awareness Month. The month is celebrated annually across the country as a way to honor the legacy and current work of Head Start in positively impacting the lives of communities, families, and young children.

Education is only one component of the impactful work of Head Start. In addition to early childhood education, Head Start programs support family well-being by connecting families to medical and dental care while helping parents achieve family goals, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security. Oregon also offers Early Head Start and Head Start Preschool supports for children from Migrant and Seasonal working families along with additional Tribal Head Start programs administered by the federal government.

DELC also administers the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten program with programming available across all 36 Oregon counties. OPK is the state equivalent of the successful federal Early Head Start program that serves children from prenatal to five years old. Since OPK’s establishment in 1987, tens of thousands of children and their families have benefited from the program.

“Head Start Awareness Month has never been more important,” said Kate Gonsalves, DELC Communications Director. “At a time of federal instability, this is an important moment to draw awareness to the strong historical roots of Head Start along with the current positive impact Head Start makes for thousands of families across Oregon. DELC joins in celebrating the transformative impact of Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start during Head Start Awareness Month.”

These free, high-quality early care and education services and wrap around social supports are available to families including pregnant people and expectant families. Eligible participants include children aged birth through five whose families meet the federal low-income guidelines whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty guidelines or who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program public assistance services. Other eligible participants include children who are in the foster care system or experiencing homelessness. Some families with special circumstances are also eligible to receive support regardless of family income status. To find a head start center visit: Head Start Center Locator | ECLKC (hhs.gov)

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About the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care

The Department of Early Learning and Care’s mission is to foster coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals. More information about DELC is available at Oregon.gov/DELC. You can also connect with DELC on Facebook or sign up for news alerts and updates.

Oregon Department Of Early Learning And Care Celebrates Head Start Awareness Month - 10/07/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Oct 7, 2025

Contact:

Kate Gonsalves, (503) 428-7292

delc.media@delc.oregon.gov

Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care Celebrates
Head Start Awareness Month

SALEM, ORE. –The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) and the Oregon Head Start Association (OHSA) visited a Head Start of Lane County preschool classroom located at Lane Community College.

“For over 60 years, Head Start has provided children and families with more than quality early childhood education; it has become a generational building block that has touched the lives of more than 40 million children and families across the United States,” said Charleen Strauch, Executive Director, Head Start of Lane County. “The crucial work of Head Start is knowing that when the family and child succeed then the community succeeds. Head Start changes lives for the positive.”

Earlier this month Governor Kotek issued a statewide proclamation officially designating October as Head Start Awareness Month. The month is celebrated annually across the country as a way to honor the legacy and current work of Head Start in positively impacting the lives of communities, families, and young children.

Education is only one component of the impactful work of Head Start. In addition to early childhood education, Head Start programs support family well-being by connecting families to medical and dental care while helping parents achieve family goals, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security. Oregon also offers Early Head Start and Head Start Preschool supports for children from Migrant and Seasonal working families along with additional Tribal Head Start programs administered by the federal government.

DELC also administers the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten program with programming available across all 36 Oregon counties. OPK is the state equivalent of the successful federal Early Head Start program that serves children from prenatal to five years old. Since OPK’s establishment in 1987, tens of thousands of children and their families have benefited from the program.

“Head Start Awareness Month has never been more important,” said Kate Gonsalves, DELC Communications Director. “At a time of federal instability, this is an important moment to draw awareness to the strong historical roots of Head Start along with the current positive impact Head Start makes for thousands of families across Oregon. DELC joins in celebrating the transformative impact of Head Start Preschool and Early Head Start during Head Start Awareness Month.”

These free, high-quality early care and education services and wrap around social supports are available to families including pregnant people and expectant families. Eligible participants include children aged birth through five whose families meet the federal low-income guidelines whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty guidelines or who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program public assistance services. Other eligible participants include children who are in the foster care system or experiencing homelessness. Some families with special circumstances are also eligible to receive support regardless of family income status. To find a head start center visit: Head Start Center Locator | ECLKC (hhs.gov)

###

About the Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care

The Department of Early Learning and Care’s mission is to foster coordinated, culturally appropriate, and family-centered services that recognize and respect the strengths and needs of all children, families, and early learning and care professionals. More information about DELC is available at Oregon.gov/DELC. You can also connect with DELC on Facebook or sign up for news alerts and updates.