What We Do
Early Childhood Development and Health Services
Head Start’s child development and health services support the development of the whole child. The early education curriculum helps children develop preschool competence in:
Head Start’s health program includes:
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A nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack each school day
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Developmental screening and assessments
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Vision and hearing screening
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Referrals for health, dental, and follow-up care
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Support for children with special needs
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Parent education
Services to Children with Disabilities
The Head Start program includes services to children with disabilities and reserves 10% of its enrollment slots for children with special needs, such as:
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Children with an Individual Education Program (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)
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Foster children
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Children with high risk factors and/or disabling conditions (such as autism, emotional/behavioral disorders; hearing, health, visual, orthopedic, speech, language or learning disabilities; mental retardation; traumatic brain injuries; or developmental delays)
Family and Community Partnerships
Head Start supports parents as the first and most important teachers of their children. Parents are involved throughout the Head Start program:
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Setting educational goals
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Volunteering in the classroom
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Participating on parent committees
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Serving on the Head Start Policy Council, which helps make major decisions regarding the Head Start program
Head Start’s ethnically and linguistically diverse staff work closely and respectfully to develop effective partnerships with parents. Through home visits and parent conferences, staff help parents develop educational goals for their children and help them work towards their goals for themselves and for their families. Through participation in Center Committees and the Policy Council, parents help to plan programs and activities for themselves and for their children.
The Head Start program works closely with organizations and agencies to improve the delivery of services to children and families. Head Start’s community partners help to identify and recruit eligible children for the program, provide referral services and follow-up, provide resources to enhance program services, and assist in program planning and evaluation. This collaborative network includes:
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Health care agencies and providers
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Child care and early education agencies and providers
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Social service agencies
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Colleges and universities
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Child and family advocacy organizations
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Local elementary schools and districts
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Cultural institutions and museums
