HISTORY

Moncton Headstart Inc. began in a small apartment in Moncton in February 1974, offering free day care for a few children whose parents could not afford child care and who were unskilled in their parenting role.  Its initial goal was to help prepare children of low‑income families for Grade 1.  In 1975, a program review identified the importance of improving the family environment (the primary influence on the child's early learning and development), of increasing the level of parental involvement, and of beginning this process within the first three years of the child's life.  To bring about meaningful change in family dynamics, and following the emphasis on parent participation, Moncton Headstart Inc. initiated parenting skills training and parent participation in the children's program in spite of initial parental resistance.  In response to needs which became apparent, the program later added transportation services.  In 1978, the parenting skills program was reviewed.  It became clear that the program needed to be less content-driven, more responsive to the learners, and sensitive to their emotional well-being.  Staff developed a program which began by dealing with the parents=feelings of inadequacy and worked to establish self-insight, self-esteem and self-control. The program was also designed to encourage parents to explore options and to develop healthy coping, interpersonal, and problem solving skills so that they could eventually provide appropriate and nurturing parenting to their children.  Over time, home visits were added to help parents transfer new concepts and skills to daily situations.  Over the next ten years, Moncton Headstart Inc. developed a Board of Directors composed of community members and began to professionalize its service by hiring teachers, child psychologists, and social workers to provide a high calibre of services.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Moncton Headstart Inc. developed a number of initiatives to meet the broader needs of its participants and other families in the community.  One of these initiatives was the Mapleton Food Bank, opened by Moncton Headstart Inc. in 1986 and funded in part by the United Way and federal and provincial job training grants.  Demand for the service grew quickly; by 1993, over 13,000 boxes of food were distributed each year. Eventually, the ever‑increasing demands on the food bank overwhelmed the fundraising and administrative capabilities of Moncton Headstart Inc., and the service was closed in1996 due to a lack of sufficient resources. 

At the end of 1988, to meet the goal of integrating economically disadvantaged families into stable neighbourhoods, the agency purchased eight houses in various parts of the Greater Moncton area, with support from CMHC and New Brunswick Housing.  By 1994, there were twelve subsidized units available to families who were, or had been, participating in Moncton Headstart Inc. 

In 1991, the Lorne Preston Educational Fund was established to assist Headstart parents and former Headstart children with further education.  The adult literacy program began the following year, as did the Mapleton Teaching Kitchen, which provides sessions related to nutrition education, food budgeting and food preparation.  In 1994, Moncton Headstart Recycles was established as a small business to provide job training and revenue for Moncton Headstart Inc.  In January 1994, an after school program was set up for children in grades 1, 2, and 3 who had attended the Headstart program, to provide follow‑up support for children who were experiencing difficulty in school. Tutoring and peer support were provided by grades 7 and 8 students who were also Headstart graduates.  The after school program ended in April 1996, due to a lack of funding.  Cutbacks in funding also had a severe impact on the Headstart program.  One of three classrooms was closed and significant staffing cuts ensued.  In March 1997, a separate Foundation was established to facilitate fundraising efforts.

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