Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 1.djvu/229

 PUBLIC LAW 101-295—MAY 17, 1990 104 STAT. 195 Public Law 101-295 101st Congress Joint Resolution Commemorating May 18, 1990, as the 25th anniversary of Head Start. May 17, 1990 [H.J. Res. 490] Whereas on May 18, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced the launching of the Head Start program; Whereas Head Start has provided comprehensive services, including health, education, and social services, and parent involvement opportunities to more than 11,000,000 children and their families since 1965; Whereas Head Start has helped to ensure that children are prepared to succeed in school and become productive adults; Whereas Head Start has been a pioneer in developing successful approaches for meeting the needs of young children and strengthening early childhood development programs; Whereas Head Start has been a model for involving handicapped children and now more than 13 percent of Head Start participants are handicapped children; Whereas Head Start now serves more than 450,000 children in every State, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Pacific Territories, and in Native American and migrant programs throughout the country; Whereas Head Start provides children with a learning environment and varied experiences that help them develop socially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development; Whereas Head Start maximizes the strengths and unique experiences of each child; Whereas Head Start guarantees that children receive medical and dental screening and follow-up treatment, including necessary immunizations; Whereas Head Start helps children become physically capable of learning by providing adequate meals and snacks to help meet their daily nutritional needs; Whereas Head Start directly includes parents in decisionmaking for the program's planning and operation; Whereas for every five children enrolled, more than four Head Start parents are providing a volunteer service; Whereas more than 30 percent of Head Start staff members are parents of current or former Head Start children; Whereas members of the Head Start staff have shown a high degree of dedication to children and families across the country; Whereas Head Start has been widely recognized by the business community, policymakers, and child development experts as an important investment in the future of our country, one that should be made for all eligible children; and Whereas the Congress supports Head Start's goal of ensuring the availability of comprehensive services to all eligible children: Now, therefore, be it

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