FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Tim Smith

Thursday, May 12, 2005 483-5779

Chautauqua County Head Start Male Involvement Program

To Hold Free Trip to Erie Zoo

The Chautauqua County Head Start Male Involvement program will hold a trip to the Erie Zoo in Erie, Pennsylvania on Saturday, May 21, 2005. The outing is a free event that includes admission, transportation, and lunch.

Head Start Deputy Director Tim Smith said, “Our program is making the extra effort to enhance the involvement of fathers or significant males with their children. It’s clear, based on research, that positive male involvement contributes substantially to a child’s overall well-being.”

Additional information about the Erie Zoo trip is as follows:

• Two buses are scheduled to leave at 9:00 A.M.

• One bus will depart from Connections North in Dunkirk and one from Connections South, Jamestown

• The buses will return approximately at 1:30 P.M. to the Connections Buildings

The Male Involvement Program is based on the principle that both mothers & fathers play an essential role in the healthy development of children. The overall mission is to “Promote positive, healthy relationships between significant males, the children enrolled in our Chautauqua County Head Start / Early Head Start Program, and their families.” The Male Involvement Program is governed by an 8-member Council made up of fathers/significant males with children enrolled in Head Start.

For more information and to reserve your seats, contact Tim Smith at Connections South at 483-5779, or Joan Schnur at ECCC at 366-5661 by Wednesday, May 18, 2005.

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