HEAD START & EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM

Head Start and Early Head Start promote school readiness for infants, toddlers, and children from low-income families by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of education, health, nutrition, social and wellness services to enrolled children and families.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, Southeastern Community Action Partnership serves 940 children in 13 Head Start facilities, five of which are agency-owned.

Southern Community Action Partnership’s Head Start program provides a learning environment that supports children’s growth in the following areas:

Our staff also provides comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families, which include health, nutrition, social, and other services that are determined by family needs assessments, in addition to education and cognitive development services. Head Start services are designed to be responsive to each child and family’s ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.

Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. SCAP Head Start staff build relationships with families that support:

Family well-being and positive parent-child relationships
Families as learners and lifelong educators
Family engagement in transitions
Family connections to peers and community
Families as advocates and leaders

EARLY HEAD START

Early Head Start (EHS) programs serve infants and toddlers under the age of 3 and pregnant women. EHS programs provide intensive, comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income infants and toddlers and their families, and pregnant women and their families.

At present, SCAP, Inc. is serving two-year-olds and early three-year olds in the Early Head Start program. The income guidelines are the same as the Head Start Program. Southeastern Community Action Partnership has Early Head Start in Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson counties.

RECRUITMENT/APPLICATION PROCESS

The recruitment process is ongoing throughout the program year. Our recruitment goal is to reach all eligible children and families. Southeastern Community Action Partnership’s Head Start Program operates centers in six counties: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland.

ENROLLMENT

Early Head Start and Head Start enrollment for the next program year should to be completed by April 1 of the current program year. Eligibility determination will be made before the child’s enrollment. If your child is eligible and is enrolled in the program, then he or she will remain eligible through the enrollment year, and the immediately succeeding enrollment year.

However, Early Head Start enrollees must apply for the Head Start Program at the end of their program year.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HEAD START?

HEAD START CENTERS

Southeastern Community Action Partnership’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs all have a 4 or 5-Star Rating from the North Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development and Early Education.

VIEW OUR LOCATIONS

Ericka Jones Whitaker, Ed. D, Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Ericka Jones Whitaker assumed the Chief Executive Officer role of Southeastern Community Action Partnership (SCAP), formerly Southeastern Community & Family Services, Inc. (SCFS), in 2014. SCAP is one of the largest Community Action agencies in North Carolina. Whitaker oversees an annual budget of over $22 million, through several federally-funded programs and leads approximately 250 staff.

Dr. Whitaker is the recipient of the Carl D. Perkins Humanitarian Award by the Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies (SEACAA) for her overall community leadership, specifically for bringing resources to the counties she serves after the effects of Hurricane Matthew. Dr. Whitaker also received the Roselle Copeland Stewardship Award for her work in community action and has received other leadership awards for her servitude in various communities.

Whitaker previously held management positions with several nonprofit trade associations in Washington, D.C., including the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG). She was a former full-time Executive in Residence, a Professor at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke School of Business, and often teaches as an adjunct instructor. Dr. Whitaker serves on the Board of Directors for Community Action Program Legal Services, Inc. (CAPLAW) which provides legal and financial resources to Community Action Agencies. She also served as the Treasurer and Board Secretary for the North Carolina Community Action Association.

Whitaker holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and Administration from Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, NC; a Master of Science in Administration (MSA) with a focus in Nonprofit Management from Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC; and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business Communications from The University of Maryland, University College in College Park, MD. Dr. Whitaker is a member of Jack & Jill of America, Incorporated, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and The Links, Incorporated.

Born in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Dr. Whitaker is the youngest of three, raised in a military family. Dr. Whitaker has lived in seven other states and Europe. She continues to have a love for traveling and cultural cuisine. With all of the “hats” she wears, Dr. Whitaker believes nothing precedes her most important role as a mother to her beautiful daughter.

Her favorite quote is by former South African President, the late Nelson Mandela: “Lead from the back and let others believe they are in front.”

Tamara Monroe, MHRM, Chief Operating Officer

With over 10+ years of Human Resource experience in retail, local and federal government, higher education and nonprofit sectors, Tamara Monroe is the Chief Operating Officer of Southeastern Community Action Partnership. Ms. Monroe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a focus in Management, and a Master’s in Human Resource with a focus in Organizational Management.

Her motto is: “Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” – First Lady Michelle Obama.

Liying Reeder, MBA Chief Financial Officer

Liying Reeder, MBA, has more than 20 years of progressive experience in accounting and management and holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Forensic Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Ms. Reeder’s personal motto is that “One person can make a difference.”

Cynthia Foskey, Director of Executive Administration and Contracts

A servant-leader with a servant’s heart for others, Ms. Cynthia Foskey oversees Executive Administration and Contracts for Southeastern Community Action Partnership. With over 26 years of experience in community and non-profit sector work, Ms. Foskey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management.

Tiffany Anthony, Section 8 Program Director

Tiffany Anthony brings over 15 years’ experience in Community Action, case management and advocacy for individuals, children and families that face economic challenges with limited resources
Tiffany holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Communications.

Kathleen Lowe Jacobs, MSW, Community Services Block Grant Program Director

With over nine years in The Community Action network, Mrs. Jacobs has a passion for encouraging and empowering individuals who are seeking change. She received her Master’s in Social Work and also holds a Master’s in Management and Leadership from Webster University.

Her motto is: “All things are possible no matter what gets in your way! You can do it!”