The OVEC Migrant Education Even Start is a family literacy program for parents and children designed to improve the educational opportunities of the family by providing early childhood education, parent education, English As A Second Language, and GED instruction. MEES coordinates and collaborates with existing adult education, migrant education, and similar programs to meet the needs of migrant families and to help create a new range of service. The OVEC MEES program is coordinated with and available in the following school districts: Bullitt County, Carroll County, Eminence Independent, Gallatin County, Grant County, Henry County, Oldham County, Owen County, Shelby County, and Trimble County.

Migrant Education Even Start integrates early childhood education, parent education, and adult education into a unified program. MEES services are delivered through home visits, site based instruction and site based family meetings. MEES addresses the needs of undereducated parents and their children in an effort to break the cycle of low literacy, school failure, poor job skills, and to establish literacy as a family value.

Components of MEES

Early Childhood Education

• Creates a learning environment where developmentally appropriate activities are used and language experiences are created.
• Prepares a child to start school ready to learn.
• Prepares a child for successful transition from home to school.
• Provides information about other agencies and programs to facilitate the linkage of families to social and educational resources.
• Provides exposure to technology through educational software on laptop computers.

Parent Education

• Emphasis on parent as first teacher.
• Parenting techniques are modeled.
• Offers opportunities for positive parent/child interaction.
• Emphasis on self-identified needs of parent.
• Provides information on coping and problem solving.
• Activities provided to encourage parent/child interaction in the home.
• Encourages utilization of daily routines and the use of household items to reinforce early childhood skill development.

Adult Education

• Addresses the participants' adult education and life skill needs.
• Initiates joint parent/teacher approach to instructional goals and planning.
• Encourages adults to attend local adult education classes.
• Exposes adults to technology through a variety of educational software related to ABE, GED, ESL, life skills, and employment skills.

Goals & Objectives of MEES

• To increase parental involvement in education and empower parents to be their child's first teacher.
• To increase school readiness skills, monitor children's progress, and communicate with school personnel.
• To improve job skills and provide all levels of adult education.
• To create a successful transition from home to school.
• To teach families how to set and obtain goals.
• To improve skills, attitudes, values, and behavior linked to reading.
• To increase the social significance of literacy in family life.
• To develop positive attitudes and good self-concept.
• To identify family needs and provide supportive services.
• To establish collaborative partnership with Head Start, Adult Education, Migrant Education, Title I, Family Resource & Youth Service Centers, to help provide seamless services for families.
• To improve the quality of life within the family.

What Makes a Family / Child Eligible for MEES?

To qualify for the MEES program, a migrant family must have moved within the past three (3) years across state or school district to obtain temporary or seasonal employment in an agricultural, fishing or food processing activity. In addition, families must have one or more children under the age of eight and one or more members of the household must begin working on adult education skills.

For More Information, Contact: Karla Gibbs, Director, at 502-647-3533, Ext. 219 or Email: