About Us

Your Child Is in Great Hands

Washoe Tribe Head Start
Mission Statement

The mission of the Washoe Tribe Head Start Program is to provide quality care, education, a loving, safe environment, which is friendly and nurturing for all employees, parents and children, and support each child's individual pattern of development and learning.

Philosophy

The Washoe Tribe Head Start Program is specifically designed for preschool Native American children and their families, as well as other ethnic groups. Through close communication and cooperation among staff, parents, elders, and volunteers, each Head Start center is a reflection of the community; sharing indigenous songs, dances, storytelling, and food. Thus, each child benefits richly by maintaining his or her cultural identity through this collaboration.

The Head Start philosophy is that parents are the principal influence in the life of their child by being the child's first and most important teacher, and the home is the child's first classroom. The parents and Head Start share information and knowledge, which can lead to improving the lives of the children and their families.

Focusing on the total family and the total needs of the child, Head Start's goal is to provide a series of positive experiences for both children and parents. Parents in their roles as advocates are vital to the success of their children. In addition, parents play an important role in helping to prepare their children to become successful in their education and in their community. In order for these experiences to develop, parents, staff, and communities must work closely together in all aspects to provide a quality program.

What is Head Start

In 1969, Head Start was delegated from the Office of Economic Opportunity of the Office of Child Development, the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and has now become a program within the Administration for Children, Youth and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services. A well established and innovative program, Head Start has had a strong impact on communities and Early Childhood Programs across the country. Since 1965, Head Start has served over 9.6 million children and their families.

For the last 40 years, Head Start has been the most successful Early Child Care Program ever developed. At the local level, the Washoe Tribe Head Start Program serves Carson, Douglas, Alpine, and surrounding counties, four days per week from September through May. Our Head Start is a center-based program.

There are seven content areas in the Head Start Program: (1) Early Childhood Development and Health Services; (2) Parent Family and Community Engagement; (3) Program Design and Management; (4) Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance; (5) Head Start Staffing Requirements and Program Options; (6) Head Start Performance Standards on Services for Children with Disabilities.

In 1975, Performance Standards were adopted to ensure that every Head Start Program provides the services necessary to meet the goals of each of these content areas. On September 2016 the Revised Performance Standards were implemented to ensure that each Head Start Program performs as a quality early childhood preschool program.

More About Our Tribe

Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California
Mission Statement

Washoe Tribe Head Start Program

Parent Orientation Manual

Preserving, revising and living the Washoe culture and traditions. Where: Respect for one another and tribal values promote our spiritual, physical and environmental wellness. Educational opportunities are available for all tribal members and descendants. A solid economic foundation ensures self-sufficiency for tribal success. Responsive government promotes teamwork, professionalism and accountability. On safe and secure tribal lands.

Meet Your Grantee

The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California

The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California is a federally recognized tribe, organized under the Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934, as amended, to exercise certain rights of home rule and be responsible for the general welfare of its membership. Tribal history extends an estimated 9,000 years in the Lake Tahoe Basin and adjacent East and West slopes and valleys of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. Our Tribally controlled lands and residential communities are now located in Douglas County and Carson City, Nevada, and Alpine County, Meeks Bay, California.

The Four Residential Washoe Communities are:

Dresslerville - located in Douglas County, Nevada near the town of Gardnerville, Nevada

Carson - located adjacent to the southwestern border of Carson City, Nevada

Stewart - located adjacent to the southeastern border of Carson City, Nevada

Woodfords - located in Alpine County, near the town of Markleeville, California

A twelve member Tribal Council that includes two representatives from each of the four Community Councils, two Off-Reservation representatives, and one Reno/Sparks Indian Colony representative, and a Tribal Chairman elected-at-large governs the Washoe Tribe. The Tribal Chairman and Washoe Tribal Council are elected to four-year terms. Within these communities/colonies, the Head Start Program utilizes all key tribal personnel to assist with and provide services to empower our Head Start families.