Some problems encountered in administering Head Start.

The local, federally-funded Project Head Start is designed primarily t o prepare the pre-school children of Washtenaw County’s low-income families t o enter kindergarten. In addition t o instruction in the verbal, cognitive, and social skills that the children need t o become successful in school, the program provides a nourishing hot lunch, complete dental and medical examinations, and the necessary supervision that has t o follow. The report, about t o be presented, will discuss the administrative problems encountered in supervising the program. The program had quarters in five different centers of the County but the main center was located in the City of Ann Arbor. Training of the staff began June 21, 1971 for carrying out the program during the period of June 30 to August 18 while the young children t o be treated were in school. A program spread throughout a large county encountered initial problems in logistics, particularly in communicating. The short duration of the program also created difficulties in follow-up. It seems appropriate, in retrospect, t o discuss eight facets of the programming, one of which includes the recommendations gained from the experience with this activity.