THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE WEEK THE Luzerne FOUNDATION Here for good. Community Champion of The Week: Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. Almost 60 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced Project Head Start with the goal of LUZERNE COUNTY HEAD STARTING providing critical access to early childhood education and support for families in need. Head Start launched in the summer of 1965 with an eight-week program for more than 560,000 low-income children and families across the country, comprehensively designed to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional and educational needs. Since then, Head Start programs nationwide have been at the forefront of breaking the generational cycle of poverty with more than 38 million served. Luzerne County Head Start, Inc. has been a local leader in these efforts since the national program's inception, beginning with 90 children and families in 1965 and growing to serve over 1,000 children from birth to age 5 today. As Head Start celebrates 60 years of service in 2025, LCHS is continuing its work to enhance the quality of life for low-income families in Luzerne and Wyoming operates 20 centers in its service area, promotes MOM LITT GENTS An Early Head Start child plays with building blocks during a home visit. counties. The nonprofit, which school readiness by supporting the development of the whole child -mentally, socially, emotionally and physically. All programs offer comprehensive education, health, nutrition and family support services at no cost to income and age-eligible children and their families. Services include Head Start and Pre-K Counts preschool programs for 3- to 5-year-old children. LCHS operates 48 classrooms Head Start children roll out playdough and cut it into between the two counties. fun shapes in the classroom Students have a nutritious breakfast and lunch provided daily and receive health screenings and referrals. Several Head Start centers offer transportation. In 1999, LCHS started its home-based Early Head Start program for expecting parents, infants and toddlers up to age 3. Services are available in the Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Edwardsville, Exeter and Tunkhannock areas. Families participate in weekly home visits focused on areas like child development, health and nutrition, and parenting education. Those enrolled may also attend socialization events with other families at their center. LCHS utilizes a two-generation service model with attention to the entire family. Parents are encouraged to be their children's first and most important teachers. Staff also work with parents on goals related to housing, employment, education and more, ultimately guiding them toward self-sufficiency for when their time with LCHS ends. It is all part of the LCHS motto of "moving families forward." Learn more about LCHS by visiting Icheadstart.org Luzerne County Head Start, LIL SIS Head Start children build a tower with blocks in the classroom. Inc. on Facebook or @luzernecounty headstart on Instagram. Subscribe to the quarterly newsletter "Head Start Happenings" via the agency's website. Working together makes our community stronger. If you have a cause near to your heart and want to make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond, please call us at the Luzerne Foundation or visit www.luzfdn.org for more information. Do you want to make our community better? So do we. Let's do it together. Because of you and for you, we are... Here for good.T THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION 34 SOUTH RIVER ST. WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702 WWW.LUZFDN.ORG 570.822.2065 THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE WEEK THE Luzerne FOUNDATION Here for good . Community Champion of The Week : Luzerne County Head Start , Inc. Almost 60 years ago , President Lyndon B. Johnson announced Project Head Start with the goal of LUZERNE COUNTY HEAD STARTING providing critical access to early childhood education and support for families in need . Head Start launched in the summer of 1965 with an eight - week program for more than 560,000 low - income children and families across the country , comprehensively designed to meet their emotional , social , health , nutritional and educational needs . Since then , Head Start programs nationwide have been at the forefront of breaking the generational cycle of poverty with more than 38 million served . Luzerne County Head Start , Inc. has been a local leader in these efforts since the national program's inception , beginning with 90 children and families in 1965 and growing to serve over 1,000 children from birth to age 5 today . As Head Start celebrates 60 years of service in 2025 , LCHS is continuing its work to enhance the quality of life for low - income families in Luzerne and Wyoming operates 20 centers in its service area , promotes MOM LITT GENTS An Early Head Start child plays with building blocks during a home visit . counties . The nonprofit , which school readiness by supporting the development of the whole child -mentally , socially , emotionally and physically . All programs offer comprehensive education , health , nutrition and family support services at no cost to income and age - eligible children and their families . Services include Head Start and Pre - K Counts preschool programs for 3- to 5 - year - old children . LCHS operates 48 classrooms Head Start children roll out playdough and cut it into between the two counties . fun shapes in the classroom Students have a nutritious breakfast and lunch provided daily and receive health screenings and referrals . Several Head Start centers offer transportation . In 1999 , LCHS started its home - based Early Head Start program for expecting parents , infants and toddlers up to age 3. Services are available in the Wilkes - Barre , Hazleton , Edwardsville , Exeter and Tunkhannock areas . Families participate in weekly home visits focused on areas like child development , health and nutrition , and parenting education . Those enrolled may also attend socialization events with other families at their center . LCHS utilizes a two - generation service model with attention to the entire family . Parents are encouraged to be their children's first and most important teachers . Staff also work with parents on goals related to housing , employment , education and more , ultimately guiding them toward self - sufficiency for when their time with LCHS ends . It is all part of the LCHS motto of " moving families forward . " Learn more about LCHS by visiting Icheadstart.org Luzerne County Head Start , LIL SIS Head Start children build a tower with blocks in the classroom . Inc. on Facebook or @luzernecounty headstart on Instagram . Subscribe to the quarterly newsletter " Head Start Happenings " via the agency's website . Working together makes our community stronger . If you have a cause near to your heart and want to make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond , please call us at the Luzerne Foundation or visit www.luzfdn.org for more information . Do you want to make our community better ? So do we . Let's do it together . Because of you and for you , we are ... Here for good.T THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION 34 SOUTH RIVER ST . WILKES - BARRE , PA 18702 WWW.LUZFDN.ORG 570.822.2065