New partnership between Head Start and Oak Hill Children’s Center announced

United Children’s Services and Oak Hill Children’s Center announce a partnership to expand Head Start programming in southern Bennington County. Oak Hill has been a valued Early Head Start Partner serving infants and toddlers for the past ten years. With the addition of Head Start services for preschoolers, families in the Pownal community now have access to a full birth-to-school continuum of Head Start-supported experiences at Oak Hill.

For the past ten years, Oak Hill has been a valued Early Head Start partner. With the addition of Head Start services, families in the Pownal community now have access to a full birth-to-school continuum of Head Start-supported experiences at Oak Hill. Benefits of the partnership include expanded health and social services for children and families, additional onsite behavioral and mental health supports for children, increased leadership opportunities for families, and financial resources.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with Head Start,” says Beth Traver Adolphus, Oak Hill Children’s Director. “This collaboration will enhance what we currently offer by providing our preschool children with additional onsite health screenings and mental health and behavioral supports. Head Start funding will also help us sustain our high-quality programming as other federal revenue sources diminish.”

While United Children’s Services continues to provide Early Head Start and Head Start services at its Head Start building on the Pownal Elementary School grounds, community data highlights a need for expanded education and family support services. The location of Oak Hill—adjacent to both Pownal Head Start and Pownal Elementary School—creates an accessible hub where families can conveniently meet all their children’s needs.

“This continued partnership is an exciting step forward in strengthening our support for families throughout the community,” says Shannon McLenithan, Oak Hill Children’s Center Board Chair.

Bennington County Head Start currently has limited slots available in North Bennington (2 Park St.), Bennington (655 Gage St), and Pownal (97 School House Rd.). For more information or to apply, please call April or Wenona at (802) 442-3686. Follow Bennington County Head Start on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for updates.

Bennington County Head Start and Early Head Start supports early childhood education and development through highly trained teachers, development of school readiness skills, commitment to continuous improvement and a focus on family engagement. For information on Bennington County Head Start and United Counseling Service programs visit www.ucsvt.org.

Founded in 1972, Oak Hill Children’s Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) provider of high-quality early childhood education in Pownal, Vermont. Oak Hill Children’s Center’s mission is to support the needs of families by providing quality early care and education services in a stimulating, nurturing environment that fulfills the State’s vision of realizing the promise of every Vermont child. Oak Hill serves children 6 weeks to 12 years old year-round, offering high-quality early childhood education for infants and toddlers, a preschool program, afterschool enrichment for school agers, as well as programming during school vacations and the summer break. Oak Hill is an Early Head Start/Head Start Partner, a Specialized Child Care Provider, a founding member of the Bennington County Farm to Early Childhood Collaborative and a participant in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and Vermont Child Care Financial Assistance Program.