Head Start in Barbour County celebrates 60 years

BELINGTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — October is Head Start Awareness Month and programs across the country are celebrating 60 years of dedication to children, including in Barbour County.

The North Central West Virginia Community Action Head Start in Barbour County held an event on Friday to celebrate a milestone with its students.

The event included a book walk, bowling, face painting and a visit from a member of the city council to read with the kids. Barbour County currently serves 76 kids in Head Start, and those with the program say they are excited to watch it grow and make an even greater impact for the next 60 years.

Karen MacDonald, the family resource coordinator at North Central West Virginia Community Action Head Start, spoke with 12 News about the generational impact of Head Start.

“They feel like we’re a safe place and they bring their kids on back when they have kids. So, I hope that continues generation to generation and that we help people become more and more successful from preschool on up to adulthood,” MacDonald said.

Head Start programs are grant-based, meaning they have relied on various funding to provide services to families since the beginning.

MacDonald says that families can start registering kid for the next school year as early as January.