Staff Writer

Julia Culver of Edmeston says it has improved her math and reading skills, and helped her become a better mother.

"It's a wonderful program," said Culver, mother of five. "I wish a lot more parents could do it."

Now they can.

For three years now, Even Start has provided low-income families opportunities for success they may have thought beyond their reach.

The program — run through Opportunities For Otsego, Delaware Opportunities and the Otsego Northern Catskills Board of Cooperative Educational Services — has received a grant to expand to six more school districts.

Even Start received $135,000 last month to expand to residents of the Cherry-Valley Springfield, Gilboa-Conesville, Margaretville, Milford, Morris and Worcester school districts.

The principle behind Even Start is simple, officials said. By helping lower-income families find services and educational opportunities, the children and parents have a better chance for success, they said.

It already exists in the Andes, Charlotte Valley, Edmeston, Jefferson, Laurens, Oneonta, Roxbury, Schenevus, South Kortright, Stamford and Windham-Ashland-Jewett districts.

"The program tries to give children an even start when they go to school," said Marie Warchol, superintendent of ONC BOCES. "There have been tremendous success stories."

Even Start already serves 50 families, but with the grant, educators will be able to help 70, Warchol said. The money from the state Education Department will allow coordinator Heather Carter to add two more educators to her staff of five.

"We help them develop literacy skills and meet developmental milestones," Carter said. "We help them connect with early childhood programs. There are many things we do."

When a family enrolls in Even Start — usually through referrals from teachers, Head Start or social services — a "family educator" begins to visit the home about once a week, Carter said.

The educator works with the parents and their children to arrange school visits, health-related services, high-school equivalency diploma courses or any other services that might help the family succeed.

An educator might suggest preschool for a child and help a parent apply for college, Carter said. Educators also emphasize parenting skills, said Linda Cameron, an educator for Even Start.

"That's probably the biggest thing," Cameron said. "We model for them the right way to talk to your children, how to use positive reinforcement and reading and writing skills."

On any given visit, Cameron said she might help children with their homework, do art projects, help a parent study for a General Equivalency Diploma, explain proper discipline or arrange a parent-teacher conference.

"It tries to bring together a whole host of agencies to bring services to these families," Warchol said. "The focus of the project is to build on the strengths the family has."

Culver said, during her visits, Cameron has taught her math and English skills to help toward her ultimate goal of becoming a nurse.

"I graduated from high school 12 years ago, but I wanted to improve my math and my reading," said Culver, 32. "It's been wondrous — I've really progressed."

Cameron also helps Culver do art projects with her children and encourages them to read together.

"I read to my children so much more now," Culver said.

Carter said Even Start aims to work with families like the Culvers, who have been with the program for three years.

"It's meant to be long-term," Carter said. "We want to start with these families and stay with them."

She said other families use Even Start to learn another language or, in some cases, learn English.

"We find ways to bring the parent and child together," Carter said. "We bring them parenting information, nutrition information, immunization information — you name it."

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Carolyn Norton can be reached at cnorton@thedailystar.com or (607) 441-7218.