Origin of Head Start

In 1964, the Federal Government asked a panel of child development experts to draw up a program to help communities meet the needs of disadvantaged preschool children. The panel report became the blueprint for Project Head Start.

Project Head Start, launched as an eight-week summer program by the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1965, was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs. Recruiting children age three to school age entry, Head Start was enthusiastically received by educators, child development specialists, community leaders, and parents across the Nation. Head Start serves children and their families each year in urban and rural areas in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories, including many American Indians and migrant children.

In 1969, Head Start was transferred from the Office of Economic Opportunity to the Office of Child Development in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, and has now become a program within the Administration for Children and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services. A well established, though still an innovative program, Head Start has had a strong impact on communities and early childhood programs across the country.

Parent/Child, Incorporated begins

On October 27, 1978, a number of parents serving as the Executive Committee of the Head Start Policy Council, being concerned about the Head Start Program under the Community Action Agency, Economic Opportunities Development Corporation (EODC), prepared a resolution to EODC's Board of Directors requesting the relinquishment of the Head Start grant. These parents, working closely with the Mrs. Blanche A. Russ, the Early Childhood Development Program Director, wanted to become independent of the Community Action Agency and for the Head Start Program to continue in San Antonio. Articles of Incorporation were completed thus beginning the name “Parent/Child Incorporated of San Antonio and Bexar County. Three (3) incorporators Ramon Carrillo, Magdalena Gonzales and Evelyn King signed this important document and became the founding members. The Articles of Incorporation for Parent/Child Incorporated of San Antonio and County Bexar, Texas was delivered to the Office of the Secretary of State in Austin, Texas and Parent/Child Incorporated became a reality.

The 70’s
The City of San Antonio became the interim Grantee for the Head Start program. On February 9, 1979, the City Council of San Antonio, under the Honorable Mayor Lila Cockrell, delegated the entire administration and operation of Project Head Start to Parent/Child Incorporated of San Antonio and Bexar County. With 12 Head Start Centers, 800 children, approximately 200 employees and one yellow station wagon, Parent/Child Incorporated, better known today as “PCI”, evolved as a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3), single purpose Human Services Agency, chartered by the State of Texas to provide educational and social services to low-income children and their families.

The 80’s

Within two years of its’ inception, 1981, PCI's Head Start Program expanded by 400 children.

The 90’s
In 1990, PCI was funded to operate a Parent Child Center for 106 infants, toddlers and pregnant women. This was a very productive program and in 1996, the program was transitioned into a Wave I Early Head Start Program for 80 families of pregnant and parenting women. In 1998, the program was transitioned to 80 infants and toddlers for pregnant and parenting young teenage school girls. Today, PCI's Early Head Start Program serves 128 infants, toddlers, and pregnant and parenting young women.

2000’s
The new century opened with new challenges for PCI, as PCI received its largest expansion ever of an additional 1,000 children. In taking on this historical expansion challenge, PCI acquired two facilities built by the County; built two new child development centers, and acquired and renovated 3 additional facilities to ensure these children received quality services. Mission accomplished!

PCI's service area covered 12 counties of which the major concentration is Bexar County. Metropolitan San Antonio is the largest city in the service area. All PCI Head Start Centers, including Early Head Start, are located in Bexar

County. The Agency's Registered Family Day Homes are located in Bexar County and the following Texas counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, and Wilson.

Over the years of existence our children, parents and staff have participated in many programs that address building a strong bond within our Head Start families. PCI collaborates and partners with many community agencies that assist with building and strengthening families. The success of these programs was achieved on voluntary family participation at all levels. PCI takes a holistic approach to this unique system of service delivery. These services are provided by 1,700 plus, qualified and well-trained dedicated employees and contracted Day Home Provider Mothers.

On May 27, 2005, Mrs. Blanche A. Russ-Glover retired after 10 years with the Economic Opportunity Development Corporation (EODC) and 26 years as Founder and CEO of PCI. Mr. Daniel M. Gonzales, Facilities and Day Homes Management Director for PCI, was placed as the Interim Chief Executive Officer until a permanent CEO was employed. Mr. Gonzales served in this capacity from June 1, 2005 through September 22, 2006. On September 25, 2006, Dr. Sharon Small became PCI's Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Small, a native of San Antonio and product of the Edgewood Independent School District, served 26 years in public education and joined PCI from the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, where she also served as educator and principal.

What Lies Ahead
Head Start serves families within the context of the community, and recognizes that many other agencies and groups work with the same families. The objective of Community Partnerships is to ensure that grantee and delegate agencies collaborate with partners in their communities, in order to provide the highest level of services to children and families, to foster the development of a continuum of family centered services, and to advocate for a community that shares responsibility for the healthy development of children and families of all cultures. PCI - where we’re growing San Antonio's tomorrow!