[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HEAD START

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                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, June 7, 1995
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 30th 
anniversary of Head Start. It is hard to believe that one of the most 
successful of the Great Society's programs is now 30 years old. For 
three decades this Federal program has been helping to improve the 
quality of life for children throughout out Nation.
  Head Start Works. It has proven to be successful in contributing to 
the readiness of children beginning school. It is far more than child 
care. It is a comprehensive program that provides health, nutrition, 
and family services. It involves parents by encouraging them to 
participate in classroom activities, accompanying children on field 
trips, becoming substitute teachers, and teaching them to help their 
children learn and grow. This family focus is one of the reasons Head 
Start has been so successful. Unfortunately, many parents are unable to 
participate on a regular basis because they must work. For these 
parents, Head Start is a Godsend. Without Head Start, many children 
would simply lack adequate supervision because their parents must 
struggle to pay the bills.
  Head Start is especially important for children with special needs. 
The identification of speech or language difficulties as well as more 
severe impairments allows early intervention to minimize and sometimes 
prevent the long-range effects of such obstacles. The health component 
provides youngsters an opportunity to have a complete health appraisal, 
another advantage that many of these children may not have had 
otherwise.
  Today, the Macomb County Community Services Agency [MCCSA] is hosting 
a Birthday celebration to mark the success they have had in many of the 
communities I have the privilege to represent. According to their 
mission statement, the challenge of MCCSA Head Start is to empower 
participants towards self-sufficiency and skill development thereby 
removing barriers which limit the realization of individual potential. 
Since the summer of 1965, the MCCSA Head Start program has been 
removing barriers for literally thousands of children. Originally a 
summer program serving barely 100 children, Head Start in Macomb County 
has grown to serve children in 41 classrooms and four home based 
clusters. A ``Community Action Agency,'' MCCSA is dedicated to families 
and individuals seeking to improve their quality of life. For thirty 
years they have been meeting the challenge with positive results.
  On this 30th anniversary, I applaud those who have made the program a 
success and I encourage my colleagues to join me in pledging continued 
support of Head Start.


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