Child Crisis Arizona Head Start Program Receives National ‘Program of Excellence’ Accreditation

(PHOENIX – Nov. 11, 2024) – Child Crisis Arizona’s Head Start program is one of 12 programs in the country to receive a “Program of Excellence” accreditation from the National Head Start Association (NHSA). The designation is awarded to Head Start and Early Head Start programs that serve children from birth to age five with education and wraparound services.

Child Crisis Arizona operates Early Head Start programs in Phoenix and Mesa. Early Head Start serves pregnant women and children ages 0-3, who are living at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Family Support Specialists work with participating families through prenatal, home-based and center-based visits. The program provides safe and enriching care that stimulates the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers.

“Through our curriculum, children receive a myriad of opportunities to develop the physical,

social and emotional skills that they will need to succeed in school. The program also has Family Support Specialists who work with families identifying strengths and needs, providing assistance, and education,” said Cindy English, Early Education Services program director.

The Head Start program served nearly 400 infants, toddlers, and pregnant women from income-eligible households in Maricopa County in 2023.

“This recognition reflects our dedication to providing top-quality programs with exceptional management and service performance, achieving strong outcomes for children, families, and pregnant individuals. The five-year accreditation involves a rigorous national peer-review process, emphasizing our commitment to high-quality, accountable, and measurable programs,” said Torrie A. Taj, chief executive officer of Child Crisis Arizona.

Others to receive accreditation are:

• Black Belt Community Foundation, Selma, Ala.
• Centro De La Familia, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Flowers Early Learning, Paw Paw, Mich.
• Jefferson County Head Start, Arvada, Colo.
• KCEOC Community Action Partnership, Gray, Ky.
• Orange County Head Start, Inc., Santa Ana, Calif.
• Pearl River Valley Opportunity, Inc. Head Start & Early Head Start, Columbia, Miss.
• Pomona Unified School District, Pomona, Calif.
• Successful Beginnings Wyandotte County Head Start, Kansas City, Kan.
• Wayne Action Group For Economic Solvency, Inc, Goldsboro, N.C.
• You Thrive Florida Learning Programs, Woodland Boulevard, Deland, Fla.

The winners will be formally recognized in January 2025 at NHSA’s Winter Leadership Institute, in Washington, D.C.

About Child Crisis Arizona

Since 1977, Child Crisis Arizona has served vulnerable children and families in Arizona and is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect through education, holistic health and wellness, prevention and intervention. CCA offers emergency shelter, residential care with education and health services for children and youth from birth to 21 and offers foster care and adoption services, early education as well communitywide parenting classes, workshops, support groups and much more. Child Crisis Arizona has positively impacted nearly 100,000 children and families since its inception. Visit www.childcrisisaz.org to learn more.