PICA Head Start

Parents In Community Action supports families in @Hennepin County through early childhood development and comprehensive programs for parents at @HeadStartGov.

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

What a great visit from our Representative Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn. We thank her for stopping by for a visit to our Training Center and for her tireless work on behalf of children and families. Let's wish her a successful legislative session!

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Thank you to all of our PICA families who showed up and vendors who participated in our annual Parent Connect Resource Fair!
Parents received information on legal advice, housing, health, school transition, COVID or flu shots and many other resources.
What a great turnout! #PICAPartners #Community #Resources #ParentConnect

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Guess what...October is Head Start Awareness Month! 📷
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, and family support services to children and families.
Join us in celebrating the impact of this incredible program! 📷
More posts to come as we share all month long what PICA Head Start and Head Start has to offer children and families!
#HeadStartAwarenessMonth
#CelebratingHSAM

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Minnesota Head Start delegation was fortunate to meet with Senator Smith today in Washington DC. Sharing with her how Head Start impacts the lives of children and families.
#HeadStartAdvantage #FLI24
@NatlHeadStart

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Which dish is your favorite?
On Friday, PICA's nutrition staff broke into four groups for our annual cooking competition at PICA U to see who could make the best food item. They were judged on taste, presentation, creativity and had to incorporate a secret ingredient.
Based on the votes, Team 1 took the win so we'd like to congratulate them for an awesome plating.
This was a great way to bring cooks from different centers together to collaborate and create something delicious while having fun.

#CooksCompetition #PICAU

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

At the opening of our PICA U training, we had an incredible keynote speaker come in to share his story as a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. By sharing his fraught with adversity and overcoming significant challenges, he reminded PICA staff of their purpose and that it's not just about us, but the families, children, and communities we serve. That in order to have a strong foundation, you need a strong base. We have to change our perspective, to be thankful, to get excited about ourselves, and remember that the word future is synonymous with Legacy!
The acronym he left us with was G.I.D. (Get It Done!)

We thank Jonathan for his time and great energy. He has shared his “Strategies for Success” with other Head Start agencies and over 2 million people across more than 45 states and 10 countries. He is the author of 10 books and is currently a Harvard student studying the psychology of human performance. You can find out more about him at https://t.co/jgtXJQMXqM

hashtag#Keynote hashtag#Motivational hashtag#Inspire hashtag#HeadStart hashtag#PICAPride

[Brooklyn Center, MN @BrklynCenterMN]

Election Day!
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Dont forget to VOTE Today!!! If you need help finding your nearest polling place click here https://t.co/tmITKR9r5T

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Once again!! We are proud to announce that PICA has been named a 2024 Star Tribune #TopWorkplace. Thanks to our employees who helped make this happen. This is all a result of your honest input and participation.

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Todd Mitchell was a former PICA Driver, Cross-Cultural Specialist and Center Supervisor. He devoted over 20 years of his career with PICA.
Todd loved fishing so much that in honor of him, PICA began an annual fishing event that continues to grow each year.
This year, we had nearly 500 parents, children and families who showed up and enjoyed the beautiful weather with Todd Mitchell Annual Fishing t-shirts, food, fishing poles and a lot of fun!
#PICApride #Family #Community #MaleInvolvement #Fishing #FamilyFun

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

With nearly 60 vendors at PICA's #ParentConnect event, we would like to thank all of you for coming out and providing some great resources to our families and the community! In addition to informative material, we had activities, food, prizes, and a full house with a great turnout.
To our incredible staff who gave their time in setting up, guiding families, providing meals and creating a welcoming space...it all comes from a place of loving what we do and the impact we make.

#TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork #HeadStartWorks #Community #Resources #Connection

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to highlight PICA's own Mental Health Consulting Therapist, Emily Walker, MSW, LICSW.
Emily is on her 9th year at PICA and specializes in early childhood mental health with an emphasis on supporting the whole family, as well as all caregivers involved in a child's life!
She has shown her support in ways such as answering questions, listening to concerns, and coming up with a plan or providing tools and parenting strategies. Emily has also supported in parent support groups and prenatal support.
We Thank You Emily for your dedication to PICA.
#MentalHealthMonth #MayForMentalHelp

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

As we near the end of Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to acknowledge that parents are the first teachers to their children and PICA embraces the diversity of motherhood that makes life truly special for them. This Mother's Day, let's thank our mothers and mother figures for the unique bond they create, their unwavering love and guidance and influence that shapes us in profound ways.
Share your Mother Appreciation story, and why she is special or important to you.
#HappyMothersDay

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

It's Teacher Appreciation Week!Let's take a moment to celebrate PICA's incredible educators who inspire, motivate, and shape our children's future every day. Let's shower them with gratitude and recognition for all they do! #ThankATeacher

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Today is National Interpreter Day and we would like to acknowledge PICA's Cross Cultural Team for all that they do. We are fortunate to be a multi-lingual program where many of our staff are interpreting and preserving the home language of PICA's families.

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

PICA believes that the earlier children learn about healthy habits,the better they will be ready for healthier life choices. Recently,Normandale College partnered with PICA to help teach our preschoolers learn about good and hygiene and healthy eating.
#HeadStartWorks #PICAKids

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

Our PICA Advocates hosted a Soap Making activity in the parent lounge to show parents how to make a low cost, eco-friendly laundry detergent from home using 3 simple ingredients!

#PICAParents #ParentActivities

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

At PICA, parent involvement is the heartbeat of our two-generational approach! Our parents passionately advocate at the state capitol for causes they care about, dads attend the Father-Daughter Dances, and we provide parents First Aid and CPR training for certification.

[PICA Head Start @PICAHeadStart]

On February 22nd, PICA hosted in partnership with @HennepinHC one of several and ongoing pop-up clinics at PICA's McKnight Center where PICA children were able to get a physical and get up to date on their vaccines.