Volunteers

Overview

  Ohio Heartland CAC Head Start depends on the volunteer hours donated by parents and community members to provide 20% of the annual budget.  Each hour donated helps to contribute to the strengthening of over 1200 Head Start families that we serve yearly.

   Volunteers read to their children both at home and in the centers, they play educational games, complete the In-Home Activities to support the curriculum at home, assist the teaching staff with classroom activities and field trips, and can help in other ways. Community members volunteer their time by serving on committees, spending time in the classrooms, providing space for Head Start activities and programming, and volunteer their expertise to train staff and parents.  Dentists and doctors are good volunteers also.  They provide some services to the children at a free or reduced rate.

   Ohio Heartland CAC Head Start wishes to thank all of the individuals, businesses, and agencies who volunteer for the children and families of our program.  We appreciate the dedication to make our community a better place for all families.

• Classroom Reader: Literacy in Head Start covers all activities that prepare children to learn to read and understand books and other written material. Volunteers are needed to come and read to the children. Also children will often draw pictures and will explain what the picture is about. Volunteers are also needed to write down what the children say about their pictures.
  
  
• Office Assistant: Many flyers need to be made, copied, and sorted so that Head Start can distribute them to our parents. Also, many classroom learning tools used by teachers need to be cut out or laminated.
  
  
• Parent Trainer: Head Start parents can take part in training classes on many subjects, such as child rearing, learning about health and nutrition and accessing resources in your own community. Parent Trainers are community speakers who may have an expertise in a certain area that they would like to share with our parents in the form of trainings. Trainings usually last 1-2 hours.
  
  
• Classroom Activities: Children's time is open for classroom exploration. During free exploration/center time, each child chooses the timing and location of his activities with lots of hands-on activities such as clay, blocks, painting, cutting, etc. Academic subjects are taught during their choice time, using items that can be manipulated, such as blocks, counters, plastic animals, etc. These activities give the children an opportunity to learn to function in a group, share ideas and beginning listening skills but are only a short portion of the day. Volunteers are needed to help the children 'explore' the different academic subjects.
  

• Head Start Activities: Head Start offers parents an opportunity to meet new friends, and a chance to be involved in activities to help their whole family. Policy Council, Family Connections meetings, family nights out, picnics and movie nights all require some help from volunteers.
  
  
• Translation, Interpreter: Work one-on-one with Spanish-speaking children to adjust to the classroom & translate for them (if necessary). Help teachers and/or family advocates communicate with parents. Translate during parent meetings for Spanish-speaking parents. Spanish speakers may also used to translate documents, newsletters, forms, flyers, etc.
  
  
• Fix-up & Repair: Individuals and groups are needed for different projects that may include: painting, woodworking, classroom furniture repair, etc
  
  

For more information, please contact the Family Advocate Manager in your county.