Astor's Dutchess County Early Childhood Programs
Astor operates all the Head Start Programs in Dutchess County. Head Start is a federally funded program for children from low-income families. It is a preschool developmental program of early childhood education and ancillary services including health (physical, dental, mental), nutrition, and social services, with extensive parental involvement and participation. Children with disabilities are served within a fully integrated setting with non-disabled children.
Head Start Program
(Available at all Astor Dutchess Co. early childhood locations)
The goal of Astor’s Head Start Program is to provide a comprehensive child development program for children, ages 3 to 5, from low-income families in Dutchess county.
Services: This Program is individualized to assist the child’s development socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically, and supports the parent as the child’s primary teacher. Adult education opportunities are available to all parents. An essential part of the program is the involvement of parents in Head Start by participating in parent education, program planning, serving as center volunteers and as members of advisory councils and committees.
Early Head Start Program
(Available at all Astor Dutchess Co. early childhood locations)
The goal of Astor’s Early Head Start Program is to provide comprehensive child development services to young children, ages 0 to 3, and their families. Services are both Center-based and Home-based.
Services: This Program provides services through two models: home-based and center-based.
The home-based program consists of a weekly 90-minute home visit by a Parent Infant Educator who supports the parents and child with information and activities on child development, parenting skills, nutrition, and health.
The center-based Nurturing Rooms offer small groups of mixed ages (six weeks through 3 years) opportunities for individualized development through primary care giving, one-on-one routines, and exploration of interesting, safe materials in a child-focused environment.
Preschool Special Education Programs
Special Class Integrated Services (Mt. Alvernia, Poughkeepsie, Salt Point, Wingdale)
The goal of this program is to provide a stimulating preschool program to children with disabilities by integrating disabled and non-disabled children in an inclusive classroom setting.
Special Class (Serving the Mid-Hudson region at Beacon and Salt Point locations)
The goal of this Program is to provide special education and therapeutic services in a self-contained classroom for children whose disability causes behavior management needs.
Services: Both of these programs provide diagnostic and evaluative services; speech and language, physical, occupational and play therapies, offered in accordance with individualized education plans. Also: Special early childhood education classroom, with health screening provided; Parenting education courses offered; Family Advocate support services.
Therapeutic Preschool (Serving Mid-Hudson region at Poughkeepsie location)
The goal of this Program is to provide educational and therapeutic services for children with emotional disturbances and/or behavioral problems who require participation in a structured day program, in order to enable the child to return to a less restrictive pre-school setting.
Services: This Program provides assessment and treatment planning, crisis intervention, case management, and verbal therapies. Social thinking, task and skill training, and socialization activities are provided in an educational / therapeutic milieu designed by an interdisciplinary team of clinical and educational staff.
List of Dutchess County Early Childhood Locations
Early Childhood Programs Overview
Bronx County Programs
notes on the artwork in this section
