District 4 Human Resources Development Center

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Northern Montana Child Development Center

Northern Montana Child Development Center (NMCDC) Head Start and Early Head Start is a no-cost, comprehensive program serving primarily low-income expectant families and families with children ages 0 to 5 years old in Hill, Blaine, and Liberty Counties. We receive a grant from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide Head Start and Early Head Start services. In addition to educational services, children and families may also receive the following services

– Vision Screening
– Hearing Screening
– Busing (Available for 1/2 Day Classes Only)
– Child Development Assessment
– Speech Services
– Language Development
– Cognitive Development
– Gross Motor Development
– Fine Motor Development
– Field Trips
– Family Advocacy
– Healthy Meals and Snacks
– Special Needs Services
– Nutrition Services
– Indoor and Outdoor Play
– Mental Health Services
– Training for Parents
– Medical Exams
– Dental Exams
– Growth Assessments
– Literacy
– Song
– Science
– Basic Skills

Northern Montana Child Development Center has two different class options for our preschool classrooms. NMCDC has 4 duration classrooms that are 7-hour days for 4 days a week (Mon-Thurs), and 2 half-day classrooms, which are 4 hours a day for 4 days a week (Mon-Thurs). There are a total of 96slots available. Both half-day classes are located at our Lincoln center at 1360 Lincoln Ave. Two duration classrooms are located at 2229 5th Ave, one is located at 1345 Wilson Ave, and one is located at 1254 10th St. These classrooms follow the Havre Public Schools closure schedule for holidays and the summer.

* Havre only

The Infant/Toddler Child Care Center is available to families with a need of childcare of at least 20 hours per week because of work, school, or TANF program requirements. The center is open from 7:30 am– 5:25 pm Monday-Thursday. The center is closed on Fridays and Federal holidays. There are 5 classrooms with a total of 38 slots available in the center. These classrooms follow the Havre Public Schools closure schedule for holidays.

* Havre only

The Office of Head Start (OHS) defines school readiness as children being ready for school, families ready to support their children’s learning, and schools ready for the children who enter their doors.

Children’s school readiness is measured by the skills set out in the five domains of the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework:

– Language and Literacy
– Cognition and General Knowledge
– Approaches to Learning
– Physical Development and Health
– Social and Emotional Development

Families are engaged in their children’s learning and development and are poised to support the lifelong success of their children. Head Start recognizes that parents are their children’s primary teachers and advocates.

As Head Start programs, parents, and schools work together to promote school readiness and engage families as their children make the transition to kindergarten, schools become ready for children. Learn more about school readiness.

It is our goal at Northern Montana Child Development Center, to ensure each child receives comprehensive health services that address the services of vision, hearing, nutrition, behavioral, and oral health as well as their medical needs.  This process is achieved through referrals, support, and guidance to parents who are the first to respond to their children’s health and developmental needs.  Children require a “medical home”.  A “medical home” means access to a health provider that can meet their primary care needs, make referrals to other professionals, and support parents.  Parents are assisted in obtaining follow-up treatment as necessary.  Northern Montana Child Development Center encourages routine dental care at an early age and aids parents in finding the care that they need.  Health care for young children needs to be both affordable and accessible to ensure each child’s optimal health development

The Policy Council actively participates in the development of school readiness goals and helps to assess the program’s progress in achieving those goals. The Policy Council also promotes the critical role that parents play in supporting their children’s progress towards school readiness

The Policy Council actively participates in the development of school readiness goals and helps to assess the program’s progress in achieving those goals. The Policy Council also promotes the critical role that parents play in support their children’s progress towards school readiness.

PC Members

Chairperson – Rosaleah Ball
Vice-Chairperson –
Parlimentarian – Kirsten Keller

Members:
Paige Herrig
Kayla Turner
Brandon Berret
Tenniella Sutherland
Rosaleah Ball
Keshia Flaten
Alyssa Jensen
Meagan Britt
Ashely Birdtail
Cordale Beard

Board Members:
Marit Ita

Community Members:
Hayley Criner
Rachel Rawn
Kasthuri Udayakumar

For more information about Head Start and Early Head Start go to the following:
www.eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov
www.mtheadstart.org

Lydia Fulcher – Child Services Director 406-265-5810, EXT 1301 – fulcherl@hrdc4.org
Please contact Lydia for more information or an application.

Download the Parent Handbook
NMCDC Policies and Procedures 2024

This website is supported by Grant Number 08CH012942 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of District 4 HRDC and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.

Parent Information

Rights:
1. To take part in major policy decisions affecting planning and operation of the program.
2. To help develop adult programs which will improve daily living for my family and me.
3. To be welcomed in the classroom
4. Upon request, be informed regularly about my child’s progress in the program
5. To always be treated with respect and dignity.
6. To expect guidance for my child from Northern Montana Child Development Center teachers, educators, and staff, which will help his/her total individual development.
7. To be able to learn about the operation of the program, including the budget and level of education and experience required to fill various staff positions
8. To take part in planning and carrying out programs designed to increase my skill in areas of possible employment.
9. To be informed about all community resources concerned with health, education, and the improvement of family life.

Responsibilities:
1. To learn as much as possible about the program and to take part in major policy decisions.
2. To accept Northern Montana Child Development Center as an opportunity through which I can improve my life and my children’s lives.
3. To take part in the classroom as an observer, a volunteer worker, or a paid employee, and to contribute my services in whatever way I can toward enrichment of the total program and to make a written commitment as such.
4. To provide parent leadership by taking part in elections, to explain the program to other parents, and encourage their full participation.
5. To welcome teachers and staff into my home to discuss ways in which parents can help their children’s development at home in relation to school experience.
6. To work with the teacher, educator, staff and other parents in a cooperative way.
7. To guide my children with firmness, which is both loving and protective.
8. To offer constructive criticism of the program, to defend it against unfair criticism, and to share in evaluating it.
9. To take advantage of programs designed to increase my knowledge about child development and my skills in areas of possible employment.
10. To become involved in community programs which help to improve health, education, and recreation for all.

1. Immunization:  You must bring in current immunization, physical and dental examination records prior to enrollment in the program.
2. Birth Certificates:  You must provide us with a copy of this record
3. Appointments:  You must take your child to all medical, dental, mental health, and speech appointments.
4. Outdoor Policy:  All children will go outdoors every day for gross motor activities. If your child is too sick to be outside – please keep him/her home.
5. Dress:   Please be sure children are dressed appropriately for the weather
6. Parent Training and Family Nights – will be held once a month throughout the school year. It is very important that you attend these for the benefit of your child and yourself. If elected to the Parent Policy Council, it is vitally important for you to attend these.
7. Absences:  Should be called in at least 1 hour before the scheduled start of child’s class and no later than 9:30 a.m. First unexcused or pattern of absences, teacher will make contact with you. Second unexcused or pattern of absences, teacher will make contact with you and notify the Family Support Focus Area. Third unexcused or pattern of absences, teacher will notify Family Involvement Component who will set up a home visit. Fourth unexcused or pattern of absences may result in the child being dropped from the program.
8. Bus Rules (Preschool only):

Pick-up
i. If a child is ill, he/she shall remain at home. If the child becomes ill on the bus, the child will be returned home.
ii. The bus will pick each child up at their pre-arranged location. The child must be ready to go. The aide is not responsible for getting children ready. The bus will honk their horn upon arrival at the location and will wait only two minutes for children. No one will come to the door to get the child.
iii. There will be not late pick-ups by staff if a child misses the bus. If no phone, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to meet the bus and inform the bus driver/aide if/why the child is not going to be in school.
iv. If you will be dropping your child off before class, you must walk your child to the classroom. Due to teacher preparation time, children are not to arrive any earlier than 5 minutes before class time.

Drop-off

i. Your child will be released to an authorized person (12 years old or older) only after making their presence known to the bus driver/aide. An authorized person is only those who the parent/guardian has authorized in writing at our office. This authorization must be given ahead of time and cannot be done over the phone.

ii. Only one attempt will be made to drop off the child after class. We can not make another attempt. The bus assistant will call the Head Start secretary and report that an authorized adult is not available to receive the child and the child will be returned to the Lincoln Avenue Center at the end of the bus run. The Head Start secretary will begin to contact individuals found on the authorized list. If someone is willing to accept responsibility for the child and will pick up the child, the child will be released to that person. If no one will pick up or take responsibility for the child, the secretary will contact Department of Family Services (DFS) at 265-1233 and inform them that the Family Advocate for the child will be transporting the child to them per Head Start policy. If the bus assistant from the child’s bus is available, then they will accompany the Family Advocate to Department of Family Services. If neither of these staff members is available, the Head Start secretary will arrange for two other staff members to transport the child to Department of Family Services. At no time will only one staff member transport the child. The parent/guardian will be responsible for picking their child up at Department of Family Services.
iii. If you will be picking your child up from the classroom, for whatever reason, you must check in with the appropriate office for your child’s location. At the Lincoln Center you must check in at the secretary’s office and receive a release authorization slip to present to the teacher.

Smoking Policy:  It is the policy of Northern Montana Child Development Center to provide a tobacco-free environment for staff, children, parents, volunteers, and participants of the program. There will be no smoking and/or use of tobacco products by anyone at any Northern Montana Child Development Center campus, in any facility or vehicle, while in attendance at off-site activities and functions, or in the presence of children at both indoor and outdoor activities by staff, parents, or volunteers.

NMCDC Early Head Start Parent Handbook

NMCDC Head Start Parent Handbook

Volunteer Information

Northern Montana Child Development Center believes that the entire community should be involved in the education of its children. Because of this philosophy, we encourage parents and other community members to volunteer with the program. Some volunteer opportunities are:

– Assisting in the classroom
– Joining the children for a meal
– Becoming a member of the Policy Council, the governing board of Head Start and Early Head Start
– Assisting in the offic
– Assisting teacher or educator prepare for class
– Teaching families a skill or hobby
– Helping provide or prepare a meal for a monthly Family Nigh
– Riding the Head Start bus
– Providing child care for parents during parent meeting
– Setting up playground equipment

We honor our regular volunteers each year based on the number of hours they volunteer. Those that volunteer 50 or more hours during the school year are honored with a dinner provided by Northern Montana Child Development Center. If you are interested in volunteering with Northern Montana Child Development Center, please contact Tyler at 265-5810 ext 1322.