Director's Welcome

Welcome to New Castle County Head Start, Inc.’s new and improved website. I hope you will find the new structure easy to use and fun to browse. I want to thank our Board of Directors, Policy Council and staff for their support of this project and overall commitment to the Head Start program.

As I enter my 23rd year as a member of “the Head Start family”, I realize that the program has touched the lives of over 15,000 children and their families. Many of those children are now adults working in the community and beginning families of their own. I am very fortunate to see some of the families that have been involved in the Head Start program and hear their consistent messages. They thank us for helping their children. They tell me that their children were among the best students in the class in school. They say how very proud they are that their children finished high school and are succeeding in college or careers. Also, many of the parents tell me how they have maintained friendships they developed with Head Start parents and staff over the years. No wonder we call it “the Head Start family.”

When you consider that economists estimate a one-dollar investment in Head Start returns a value of approximately fifteen dollars to society, and that recent studies on brain development show children develop most of their personalities before they reach kindergarten, the data is clear. High quality early education is vital to the health and welfare of society.

Head Start has been the leader in quality early education for over 45 years. The program is held to high standards set by the federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Delaware Department of Education. We invite all of our neighbors in New Castle County to contact any of the centers for tours or to learn more about the program. We welcome and encourage community involvement.

Warm Regards,

Jeffrey E. Benatti
Executive Director