Catholic Charities' Head Start Program to Hold White Coat Ceremony

NEW ORLEANS— Students at Incarnate Word Head Start Center will participate in a special program next week that's more common for medical school graduates. The children, ages 3–5 years old, will receive white coats in a ceremony designed to introduce them to the possibility of someday being a doctor, nurse, dentist or other healthcare professional.

 The White Coat Ceremony takes place next Tuesday, June 21 from 10–11:30 a.m. in the cafeteria of Incarnate Word Head Start Center, 8326 Apricot Street.  Each of the 35 students will receive white lab coats from representatives of the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and Southeast Louisiana Area Education Center (SELAHEC) Foundation. The two organizations have partnered to address significant health disparities among minority and underserved populations in Louisiana by creating programs that encourage health careers.

 "This program, which is a pilot in the state, introduces the children to what they can do with their lives. We want them to know that they have the opportunity to be anything they want to be when they grow up," says Rhonda Taylor, director of Early Childhood Education Services for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans (CCANO), which administers Head Start and Early Head Start in Orleans Parish.

 Head Start and Early Head Start serve families who are at or below the federal poverty line. The programs promote the social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth and development of children beginning at age 6 weeks to 2 years old for Early Head Start and from 3 to 5 years old for Head Start. According to Taylor, the Head Start curriculum typically includes a unit of study about Community Helpers such as doctors, nurses, dentists or emergency medical technicians. The White Coat ceremony may be the first time anyone has told them they too can be community helpers.

Registration for the next academic year of Head Start and Early Head Start at locations throughout the city is currently underway through July at St. Mary of the Angels Head Start Center, 2225 Congress Street in New Orleans. It continues through July 1. Parents or guardians should bring all required documents including the child's birth certificate, Social Security card, proof of medical insurance, two current proofs of residency—such as utility bills or lease agreements—and 2021 W-2 forms.

 Visit https://www.ccano.org/head-start-program/ for more information about the Head Start program.

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About Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans:

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans provides hope, help and loving care for the most vulnerable and needy in the eight civil parishes of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. We work to be the hands and heart of Jesus Christ for our neighbors in need. Through our ministries, programs and community partnerships, we provide a comprehensive network of social services that connects clients to resources and acts as a springboard to self-sufficiency for those struggling. We offer support that empowers individuals, families and communities to grow and thrive. Our Mission: Impelled by the love and teaching of Jesus Christ, we offer life-giving programs, advocate for the voiceless, and empower the poor and vulnerable to foster a more just society. For more information, visit www.ccano.org.