by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC
A Kansas City Kansas Community College student is among a small group heading to Washington D.C. next week to advocate for the Head Start program.
Jolene Morel, a first year student at KCKCC studying early childhood education, has been selected as a Parent Advocate for Kansas Head Start, a program that works to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has an opportunity to succeed in school as well as in life.
“I am a little nervous, but excited too,” Morel said about her upcoming trip. “I feel very honored to have been selected and am hoping to make more of a difference in the lives of children and families.”
Morel will be a part of a four-person delegation traveling to Washington D.C. from March 13 to 17. While in the capital, she will have the opportunity to meet with area members of Congress as well as representatives with the national Head Start program to talk about why Head Start is vital in the lives of so many families.
Launched in 1965 as the Head Start Project, the program has helped more than 32 million children and their families prepare for school. Four main components comprise Head Start – education, health, parent involvement and social services. It is through these components that the focus is not only on the children and enhancing their growth and development, but also on families by linking them to crucial community services needed for success.
Early Head Start is a program that came out of Head Start in the mid-1990s.
Like Head Start, it is a community-based program for women starting in pregnancy and continues to a child’s third birthday. It offers similar resources as Head Start, also focusing on child and family development.
“I have been involved with Early Head Start since I was pregnant with my youngest child,” said the mother of two. “I believe being a part of the program has empowered me as a person and as a parent. I feel like now, I am always willing to talk about any issues my children might have and really advocate for both of my children and their success in school.”
This is not the first time Morel has had the opportunity to take on a leadership role through Head Start. In 2015, she was named the Head Start Parent of the Year for the state of Kansas. She went on to place third in the national competition. The award has allowed Morel to speak publicly for the organization and highlight the benefits of participating in the program.
“Head Start is a terrific program because of all of the resources that are made available to families,” said Morel, who also works in KCKCC’s Continuing Education Department. “The educators are always so encouraging and really want to help the family as a whole.”
Morel said that once she completes her associate’s degree at KCKCC, she hopes to do something with children and families such as being a teacher or home visitor for Head Start. She said no matter what she decides to do, she wants to continue to make a difference by helping educate more people in the community and helping all children have access to education.
“There are families out there that may not feel empowered. They may not have the resources. They may not have found that avenue to be successful,” she said. “I am in such a better place now (after being involved with Early Head Start/Head Start). I am more stable, more confident, and we are being successful as a family unit. I want to continue to be an advocate for children and families and am honored to have this kind of opportunity.”