Frequently Asked Questions

Program Questions

  1. What is Reach-Up Inc.?
  2. What geographical areas do you serve?
  3. Is there a fee?
  4. What happens in Head Start?
  5. What are your funding sources?
  6. Is transportation provided?
  7. What services are provided?
  8. Are meals provided?
  9. What is Family Literacy?
  10. What is KinderStart?
  11. What is Early Head Start?
  12. What is Head Start?

Enrollment Questions

  1. Who is eligible?
  2. How do I apply?
  3. Do you have any openings?
  4. Do you enroll children with disabilities?
  5. Can I visit Head Start?

Employment/Volunteer Questions

  1. What employment opportunities are available with Reach-Up?
  2. What volunteer opportunities are available with Reach-Up?


Program Questions

  1. What is Reach-Up Inc.?
    Reach-Up Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides Head Start, Early Head Start, KinderStart, and Family Literacy programs for eligible families in Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns Counties of Minnesota. (    Back to questions)

  2. What geographical areas do you serve?
    Reach-Up Inc. serves families in Central Minnesota. Some cities in our service area are Avon, Cold Spring, Elk River, Foley, Melrose, Paynesville, St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and Zimmerman (    Map) (Back to questions)

  3. Is there a fee?
    There is no cost for Reach-Up programs. For families choosing the child care option there may be a fee. In most cases there is no cost for 5 hours. (    Back to questions)

  4. What happens in Head Start?
    Head Start sessions begin with circle time followed by washing hands, a meal, and brushing teeth. Sessions running for 3 hours and 30 minutes provide breakfast for the morning group and lunch for the afternoon group. Two meals and snacks are provided for children in sessions lasting longer than 3 1/2 hours. Schedules allow children time to play and work with their peers, develop positive social skills, and practice problem solving and decision-making. The curriculum includes activities that promote math and reading skills and are developmentally appropriate for the children and challenge them to learn and grow. Field trips are provided for all sites.

    Home Based Head Start provides opportunities for the family, with the assistance of the home visitor, to enhance the child's learning at home. Home visits are offered once a week. Family Days, a socialization experience, are provided at least twice each month. At home visits the parents choose a mini unit to develop/enhance skills such as color recognition, fine motor, or language development. A nutritional tasting experience is provided during each visit. Field trips are included with home based activities and planned with parent assistance. Transportation to Family Days and field trips may be provided as needed. (Back to questions)

  5. What are your funding sources?
    Head Start Bureau: Administration for Children & Families; MN Department of Education; United Way of Central Minnesota (    Back to questions)

  6. Is transportation provided?
    Little blue buses pick-up and drop-off children for many of the site options. Parents are required to transport their own children to some site options. For families that receive Home Visits, transportation to special events can be provided by the Home Visitor when necessary. (    Back to questions)

  7. What services are provided?
    Refer to program features in our     Family Literacy, KinderStart, Early Head Start, or Head Start sections. (Back to questions)

  8. Are meals provided?
    Yes. For more information refer to     "What happens in Head Start"? (Back to questions)

  9. What is Family Literacy?
    See our     Family Literacy section. (Back to questions)

  10. What is KinderStart?
    See our     KinderStart section. (Back to questions)

  11. What is Early Head Start?
    See our     Early Head Start section. (Back to questions)

  12. What is Head Start?
    See our     Head Start section. (Back to questions)

Enrollment Questions

  1. Who is eligible?
    Families with children ages birth-5 and families expecting a baby are eligible if they meet at least one of the guidelines. Eligibility is determined for each family based on the income information submitted with the application and family size. The federal poverty guidelines are published each year in the spring. Families are eligible if the child has a documented disability, if the child is a foster child, or if the family receives public assistance. (    Back to questions)

  2. How do I apply?
    Call the Reach-Up Inc. office in St. Cloud, MN. Eligibility will be discussed and an application will be completed over the phone. (    Contact us) (Back to questions)

  3. Do you have any openings?
    Reach-Up Inc. provides Head Start and Early Head Start for approximately 500 children in the three county area. Most sites run from September through May. A few sites run year-round; September through August. There are openings in most sites until the end of August. Openings during the program year are filled by children on the waiting list. Contact Reach-Up Inc. for current information throughout the year. (    Contact us) (Back to questions)

  4. Do you enroll children with disabilities?
    Yes. At least 10% of the Head Start and Early Head Start children have a documented disability. Children with disabilities are included in all sites. (    Back to questions)

  5. Can I visit Head Start?
    Contact Reach-Up Inc. for additional information about Head Start and to discuss the option of visiting a site. (    Contact us) (Back to questions)

Employment/Volunteer Questions

  1. What employment opportunities are available with Reach-Up?
    Reach-Up Inc. has approximately 100 employees. There are bus drivers, teachers, computer/clerical/office staff as well as nurses, cooks, and family advocates. Job openings are advertised in the local newspapers. (    Back to questions)

  2. What volunteer opportunities are available with Reach-Up?
    If a person is interested in doing volunteer work, there is probably a task or set of tasks waiting to be done. Families participate in parades and other special events. Students from area colleges and universities complete required volunteer work for their degree. Interpreters help us communicate with families who do not speak English. Community members serve on boards, councils, and committees. Parents as well as community members help in the office and classrooms and on the buses. Contact Reach-Up Inc. for more information. (    Contact us) (Back to questions)