Three CSIU Early Childhood Education programs are joining forces to offer convenient registration events throughout their respective service areas. While the CSIU Pre-K Counts, Northumberland Area Head Start, and Northumberland Area Early Head Start are separate programs with some differences, there are enough commonalities that make hosting these recruitment events together beneficial for the programs, and the families they hope to reach.

Families living in the designated service areas are invited to upcoming registration events to either apply for the first time or submit required documentation and schedule recruitment meetings. With proper permissions to share information put in place, the programs can share referrals and work together to ensure the greatest number of children possible are placed in the program designed just for them. All three programs are offered at no-cost to families. They are not first-come, first-served. The programs must rate each application based on grant-defined eligibility requirements. More information about each program’s eligibility can be found at www.csiu.org/preschool.

All registration events will take place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.. Look for signage outside each of the following locations:

Registration events for Early Head Start, Head Start, and Pre-K Counts:

April 21, 2022 at Beck Elementary School, Sunbury
April 22, 2022 at Line Mountain Elementary School, Trevorton
April 27, 2022 at Milton High School, Milton
May 2, 2022 at Watsontown Children’s Center (former Watsontown Elementary), Watsontown

Registration Events for Pre-K Counts only:

April 20, 2022 at Nescopeck Elementary, Nescopeck
April 25, 2022 at Millville Elementary, Millville
April 28, 2022 at Central Columbia Elementary, Bloomsburg
April 29, 2022 at G.C. Hartman Elementary, Catawissa

Northumberland Area Early Head Start is a home-based program serving expectant mothers, infants and children up to their third birthday living in Northumberland County. Home visitors work with caregivers to empower them as their baby’s very first teacher. Home visitors also act as resource and referral sources for families to help them reach their goals. As Early Head Start is a federally funded program, certain eligibility requirements must be met to qualify.

Northumberland Area Head Start is a high-quality, center-based preschool program serving 3 to 5-year-old children that are not yet kindergarten eligible. Head Start prioritizes partnering with families not only on their child’s academic progress but in all areas of child and family development. Like Early Head Start, this federally funded program is designed to serve families living at 100% or below of the Federal Poverty Level. Homeless children, foster children, and families receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits are eligible regardless of income.

Families living above the poverty level still experience challenges finding, and affording high quality preschool programs. Pre-K Counts exists to stand in that gap. Pre-K Counts and Head Start operate under many of the same standards and goals around kindergarten readiness and program implementation. However, Pre-K Counts is a state-funded program designed to serve families living at 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. The CSIU Pre-K Counts program serves families living in Berwick, Central Columbia, Line Mountain, Millville, Milton, Shikellamy, Southern Columbia, and Warrior Run School Districts.

Questions about registration events or how to apply can be directed to:

Christy Hauger, Pre-K Counts, chauger@csiu.org, (570) 523-1155 x 2225
Holly Doyle, Head Start, holly.doyle@csiu.org, (570) 523-1155 x 2256