Umatilla-Morrow Head Start (UMCHS) will welcome a new executive director on Jan. 5th.
Maureen McGrath assumes leadership of the organization which provides early childhood education, health and social services to families throughout Northeastern Oregon.
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McGrath assumes the role as only the second leader in the history of UMCHS. Cathy Wamsley has served as executive director since 1986, when the private, nonprofit corporation was formed. Initially, it was a single-purpose agency, serving 130 children and their families with the Head Start program. UMCHS now offers education, health and social services through eight programs, reaching over 4,700 families in Umatilla, Morrow, Grant, Wallowa, Union, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties.
“Head Start has been part of my life for the past 37 years, first as the Head Start director under Blue Mountain Economic Development Corporation in Pendleton and then as executive director of Umatilla-Morrow Head Start, Inc.,” Wamsley said. “It has been an organization that I have been very proud to work for and I believe strongly in their mission.”
McGrath has most recently served as the division director of Child Welfare Services for Catholic Charities of Yakima, and the agency director for Catholic Family and Child Service in the Tri-Cities. She received her bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, and her master’s from the University of Denver.
“I’m excited about working with this organization which has done so much for the community for so many years,” said McGrath. “It’s in partnering together that we insure our youngest community members get a healthy and positive start, in school and in life.”
McGrath’s 30 year background in providing health and human services has encompassed many of the prevention and intervention activities that UMCHS provides.
“The work of building healthy families starts early and continues for a lifetime,” McGrath said. “And it’s in working together with community partners that we insure every child as well as their family and caregivers are set on a course for success.”
Umatilla Morrow Head Start provides early childhood education services; performs health screenings and referrals; operates the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition education and supplemental food program; provides child care resource and referral services; and supports families through the Healthy Start, Family Support and Connections, and CASA programs.
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