My son who is currently in the third grade was a big challenge when he was younger. He did not start talking until he was three and a half years old. Because we were linked up with Western Mt Childhood Development Center through our public health nurse he now is talking. They use to have the grant for Missoula Early Head Start and they taught our family how to use sign language to communicate with him. This made it so much easier to communicate with him. In fact, the first time he used sign language to say I love you to his mother she started crying. Early Head Start and Head Start have help out our family so much. We have had three of our four children go through their programs and become so much more excited about reading and learning in school.
I have given back to these programs by being an active parent. I have been the Policy Council Chairperson for Early Headstart the year they received a new grantee (Ravalli Head Start Inc. of Hamilton, MT). By being on the policy council the year this program was starting new I learned so much about Head Start that I wouldn't have otherwise. I have also been on the executive committee for the parent committee as parent rep for the State HeadStart Association. I learned alot while serving on this board as well. I have also been vice chair and chair for the policy council of our Head Start Program.
I am currently serving on the Board of Directors for Missoula's Head Start as secretary and a parent rep. I am proud as a parent what Head Start represents and am proud to be associated with them any way I can.
Darrel Christensen