The Department of Education recognizes that nutrition and good health are very important for children who are school age in order for them to be ready to learn. The Department administers several programs designed to help children attend school with healthy minds and bodies.
What is the program?
Head Start is a federally-funded, comprehensive child development program to serve low income children before they are signed up to go to public schools.
Head Start focuses on all areas of a child's development: educational, emotional, nutritional and physical. It provides a classroom experience for the child which includes two nutritious meals per school day. Head Start staff visit homes in order to tell and teach parents what goes on in the classroom and what they can do to foster and encourage their child to have a positive learning experience. The Head Start program also helps the family with health and social service needs.
Parents are encouraged to be as involved as possible in all aspects of the Head Start program. They are asked to give some time to help with classroom activities and home visits, as well as attend parent meetings once each month. Parents are active members of the policy council --the group that is in charge of running Head Start. Also, parents who might like to become Head Start teachers can receive training.
The Head Start program operates from September through May, but registrations for new children are accepted at any time during the year.
Who qualifies?
Low income preschool children whose families are at or below 100% of the FPIG qualify for Head Start.
Where can I receive more information?
For more information, see the blue pages of a local telephone directory.
What is the program?
Health services for migrant children can vary, depending on where the child was born and what type of legal documentation his/her parents have. Primary health services may be provided through the Migrant Health Center system, run by the Pennsylvania Rural Opportunities, Inc., as funded under the Migrant Health Act of 1962.
Migrant health services include primary care, out-patient services, emergency room care, prescriptions, emergency dental care, and AIDS education to migrant and seasonal farm workers and their families. Emergency MA is granted to all children and their families through providers of emergency treatment--hospitals, outpatient clinics, etc., regardless of legal status.
Who qualifies?
The individual must be an agricultural worker and cannot live in any area for over 2 years. He/she must also have income that is less than 125% of the FPIG.
Where can I receive more information?
For more information, contact Rural Opportunities at 800-692-7450.
What is the program?
Family Centers for Child Development provide home and center-based early childhood and family services in elementary schools or Head Start locations. Under grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, school districts and the family centers located at their schools work with local Head Start administrators to provide parent and child development education, information, and referrals for related services to eligible families with children ages 0 to 5.
Who qualifies?
Requirements may be different in different locations. However, services are now being provided to these groups of people:
Healthy Beginnings Plus mothers and other parents (specifically for childbirth to age three) and older siblings to age five.
Teen parents.
Older single parents.
Two parents, if they are low income/underemployed.
Parents with limited English proficiency, or with no high school diploma or GED.
Where can I receive more information?
More information is available by contacting the Bureau of Community and Student Services, Early Childhood and Family Education Division, PA Department of Education, at 717-772-2813.
What is the program?
This program provides free and reduced-price breakfasts and lunches to eligible students during the school year. The meals served meet all of the nutritional requirements specified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Who qualifies?
Free breakfasts and lunches are provided to students under the age of 21 whose family income is below 130% of the FPIG. Reduced-price meals are available to students whose family income is below 185% of the FPIG.
Where can I receive more information?
For more information, contact the program administrator, Department of Education. (See Chapter 338, Medical Assistance Benefits, Appendix J).
What is the program?
The Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET) promotes healthy eating for children in schools and child care facilities. The nutrition education activities are coordinated with the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.
NET provides grant funding for projects such as:
In-service training seminars and college level courses for educators and food service workers.
Making guides to teach good nutrition education.
Creating materials including videotapes, lending libraries, public service announcements, theatrical productions and computer software that focus on good nutrition.
Who qualifies?
Services are available to all children, teachers and food service personnel in public and private non-profit schools and places that provide childcare who qualify to participate in the Child Nutrition Programs.
Where can I receive more information?
For more information, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs at 717-787-3186.
What is the program?
This program is funded by grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Many of the Commonwealth's school districts, intermediate units, and vocational or technical schools offer Pregnant and Parenting Teen Programs. The programs offer the following services:
Parenting, health and nutrition education that focus on activities that help build skills for parents and children to get along well.
Vocational and career counseling.
Help with finding and receiving health care and community social services.
Child care (not available at all program sites).
Who qualifies?
Teens who are pregnant or parents and are enrolled in school.
Where can I receive more information?
For more information, contact Project SUCCESS at 717-763-1661.
What is the program?
The Summer Food Service Program provides meals to children in economically-impoverished areas when schools are closed for summer vacation. The meals served meet all of the nutritional requirements specified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Who qualifies?
Children up to age 18 qualify for the Summer Food Service Program if their family income is not more than 185% of the FPIG. Individuals with disabilities up to the age of 21 may qualify for the program if they attended a school approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as an educational agency during the past school year.
Also, all children in an area may qualify, regardless of his/her income level, if people who come to the food service site are from an area where at least 50% of the children come from families whose incomes fall below 185% of the FPIG.
Where can I receive more information?
For more information, contact the Program Administrator at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. (See Chapter 338, Medical Assistance Benefits, Appendix J.)
Updated February 14, 2012, Replacing February 8, 2002