LEWISTON – A team from Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care attended the Hilton/Early Head Start Special Quest training in Alexandria, Va., recently.

The mission was to support Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start staff and family in collaboration with early intervention and child care to develop skills and strategies for accessing and using services, resources and technology to include infants and toddlers with significant disabilities and their families.

The team consisted of a parent, Tina Hutchinson; Mary Ratsavong, Early Head Start supervisor; Mary Law, child development manager; and Diane Barber, service coordinator from Child Development Services Androscoggin.

The team developed a vision, a mission statement, a one-year plan and three strategic objectives. They will meet throughout the year to work on the goals until they return to Virginia in August 2004 for further training.

Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care has provided child development services to families of preschool children for more than 37 years.

Programs are free to eligible children and full-day child care services are available on a sliding fee scale for parents who are working, in school or participating in job training. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Call 795-4040, extension 25, for more information or for an appointment.