Child Inc is the Head Start/Early Head Start Grantee for Travis County and is a comprehensive Early Childhood Education Development Program for income eligible families with children ages 0-5 years old. A two-generational whole family approach plus a passionate commitment to helping children and families equals a pathway to success. Child Inc has been in operation since 1972 and serves approximately 2,000 families each year.
Head Start provides each family with a Family Advocate. The purpose of a Family Advocate is to perform advanced service planning, case management and provide quality and comprehensive child/family support services. Family Advocates provide resources and referrals, crisis intervention, opportunities for community involvement, and support to develop literacy, leadership and employment skills. As well as to assist families with the development of a Family Needs Assessment and a Family Partnership Agreement that will contribute in helping connect families to the services and supports they need to achieve their individual and family goals. The Family Advocate develops a family action plan for each family based on individualized strengths and their needs assessment. They support families by actively linking them to training, employment, health care, housing, utility assistance, neighborhood support groups and other formal and informal supports that will assist in reducing the stress on family relationships and improving family well-being. Family Advocates also provide support for parents as they identify, and work toward the achievement of their family and individual goals while measuring progress towards meeting objectives. The Family Advocate encourages all family members to become advocates for their children and family.
