TOWNSHEND — Windham Central Supervisory Union is starting a program for families with preschoolers in the West River Valley towns of Jamaica, Wardsboro, and Townshend.
The Preschool Support Program is funded by a state/federal Preschool Expansion Grant. Through this program, families with preschool-age children can get help with a variety of needs, according to a news release.
The preschool support worker can help families receive beneficial screenings for their child (hearing, vision, dental, health, and developmental), connect to community resources for help with things like housing and food, and coordinate or pay for transportation to and from appointments or preschool.
The preschool support worker can meet with families in their home or at another location, whichever is more comfortable and convenient for the family.
In order to be eligible for the Preschool Support Program this coming fall, a child must be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2016, and, as mentioned above, be living in Jamaica, Wardsboro, or Townshend. They do not need to be enrolled or planning on enrolling in preschool in order to be eligible, though the program does happen during the 2016-17 school year.
This program has income guidelines, but they are broader than the free and reduced lunch program guidelines.
This program will also be offering numerous family events. These events will be a chance for families to connect with others in their community and will cover a variety of topics and activities. These events will be open to all families with preschool-age children in Jamaica, Townshend, and Wardsboro.
The goal of the the Preschool Support Program is to help support families so that their children can start elementary school off on the right foot.