Mary Ellen Jenkins

Since 1965 LEO has worked to alleviate the immediate impact of poverty while providing pathways to economic stability for individuals, families, and for the strength of the community of Lynn and its surrounding towns. We have grown to serve over 7,000 people with low incomes annually, and operate child care from birth to five at four locations, and with a home visiting program for new families. LEO child care programs use a two-generation approach by by building on the skills and resources of parents and families. We leverage our own internal departments as a community action agency to provide fuel assistance, home weatherization and energy conservation, and by facilitating access to other local resources to meet basic needs beyond Head Start early childcare. A breadth of health, nutrition, parent education, English literacy, and career programming for family well-being and self-sufficiency is included in enrollment. Family case managers monitor and facilitate connection and use of available community services. Children are taught by qualified staff using research-based, age appropriate Office of Head Start endorsed curricula and include individualized plans for school readiness, health and nutrition. We do not shy away from difficult cases. In fact, we prioritize the enrollment of children who are homeless, in foster care, or who have developmental delays and disabilities. Accolades and Accreditations: Our child care programs are accredited by NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In addition, our Commercial Street Head Start site earned a QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement Status) level 3 status from MA Dept of Early Education & Care, which has been earned by less than 6% of all child care sites evaluated in Massachusetts.