The Head Start & WIC Difference
Head Start Keynote Speaker and Television Host & Parenting and Child Development Expert on The ABC Prime Show "The Parent Test," Dr. Adolph "Doc' Brown credits Head Start & WIC for laying the foundation for his nutrition and aptitude for learning. This is a small tribute to the programs that made such a BIG positive impact on his life. The good people of WIC and Head Start believed the promise inside of young Adolph was greater than the poverty around him. He thanks Head Start for doing exactly what your mission states and more: Promoting school readiness of young children from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development. Doc Brown has devoted his professional life to providing training to strengthen parent-child relationships and engage families around children's learning and development. As a child, Adolph's behavior was not the best as his dad left his home when he was two years old and he missed him very much. His mother was saddened as she thought their marriage was healthy and strong. Now his mother was left with five children to rear alone. The new and emerging Head Start program embraced his mother to the extent that she became a policy council chairperson.
Dr. Adolph "Doc" Brown thanks the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for being a key to childhood and family well-being. WIC's aim has been on target as you safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating and the many benefits of breastfeeding, and referrals to health care.
Many of the lessons Doc learned as a Head Start student, he uses today as a husband, father, child & family psychologist, master teacher, teacher educator, training specialist, research-scientist, and safe spaces advocate. Below are just a few of the many lessons Adolph learned from the teachers and teacher's aides in Head Start:
Dr. Brown's Words:
My mother (Virginia) by my side at a National Head Start Association Conference
I first thank my mom for choosing the services of Head Start for us.
I am one of 36 million children served by Head Start since 1965. I am a proud graduate of Head Start and former beneficiary of WIC services, and I shout it on the mountaintops (with my inside voice). Head Start & WIC have become integral parts of my life as I have had the wonderful opportunity to have worked with Dr. Edward Zigler (Father of Head Start), opened a fitness & wellness facility 3 blocks from the housing projects where I grew up, been the President of the Virginia Head Start Association, been a Head Start program reviewer, and I continue to advocate for WIC and Head Start as well as consult with WIC and Head Start programs as an engaging, informative, and delightfully different WIC and Head Start Keynote Speaker and Trainer. I must admit that nowadays, my favorite invitations are being one of the select few Parent, Family, Community & Fatherhood Engagement Keynote Speakers. I often correct audiences who think of me as a "Motivational Speaker." As a proud former Head Start student and WIC beneficiary, I am a "Foundational Speaker!" Head Start and WIC were apart of the foundation from which I was built.
I AM THE HEAD START & WIC DIFFERENCE!
And My Family Has Greatly Benefited!
I provide a 100% Service In-Kind Donation Match for contracted Head Start & WIC Service(s)