Philosophy and Commitment

New Directions Early Head Start (NDEHS) provides pregnant participants, infants, toddlers, and their families with quality care and family services. We support families by providing services that meet their needs and support their young children. Our goal is to promote children’s success and families’ self-sufficiency through community collaboration and partnerships. This includes both home visiting and center-based services for families.

NDEHS Philosophy

• Our relationship with children and families is the primary focus for everything that happens in our program.
• Young children learn through daily routines.
• Infants actively pursue their own curricula, so activities should respond to each child’s interests, abilities, and needs.
• Creating and maintaining a quality program is an ongoing journey.

Our Commitment

We commit to serving families by:

• Respecting families and their experiences
• Empowering children and families
• Listening to understand
• Building on individual and family strengths
• Valuing individuals and their different perspectives
• Advocating for infants and toddlers

How We Carry Out Our Commitment

We support this commitment through:

• Encouraging open dialogue
• Being flexible, adaptable, responsive, and aware
• Supporting the professional growth and development of all team members
• Strengthening our core program structure
• Conducting ongoing community needs assessments
• Partnering and collaborating with communities and agencies
• Supporting systems change