Submitted by tara.hurlebaus on
(Wilmington, Del.) – New Castle County Head Start, Inc. is pleased to announce it is a recipient a Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play grant in the amount of $5,000. The grant will enhance the outdoor play space at New Castle County Head Start, Inc. Brandywine and Claymont centers. Head Start will purchase value added packages from one of 27 elite vendors who were selected by a team of evaluators for the packages’ developmental appropriateness, safety and both play and monetary value.
“We appreciate Head Start Body Start for its support of our efforts to improve our outdoor play space,” comments New Castle County Head Start, Inc. Executive Director Jeffrey E. Benatti. “Head Start Body Start is an excellent resource for Head Start programs to educate families about the value of physical activity and outdoor play.”
The Head Start Body Start National Center was created through a federal grant to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR) from the Office of Head Start. In addition to the play space improvement, each award-winning Head Start Center will have access to online courses, webinars and resource materials.
Contact: Tara Hurlebaus at 302-593-8447 or [email protected]
About New Castle County Head Start
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the mental, social, emotional and physical well being of children and families with limited income in New Castle County, Delaware. The program provides caring, and stimulating preschool programs to 615 children and their families at nine centers throughout New Castle County. For application information, please call 302-452-1500 or visit www.ncchs.org.
About Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play
Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play (HSBS) is a project of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR), which are associations of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Funding for HSBS is provided by the Office of Head Start (OHS), Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of HSBS is to increase physical activity, outdoor play and healthy eating among Head Start and Early Head Start children, families and staff. HSBS will assist Head Start programs in creating healthy learning environments, both in and outside the classroom, through structured and unstructured physical activity that leads to the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of young children and reduces obesity and its associated costs. HSBS has three main objectives: (1) to inform and assist OHS in setting national priorities and developing policies; (2) to provide resources, training and technical assistance to Head Start and Early Head Start grantees; and (3) to administer and support grants for construction or improvement of outdoor play spaces at Head Start centers.
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