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Head Start and Early Head Start Description

Picture of early childhood activity

Head Start and Early Head Start:

  • Serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families
  • Provide A safe, caring environment where both children and parents come to learn, grow and achieve
  • Have the overall goal of increasing the ‘school readiness’ of young children in low-income families
  • Are federally funded

Head Start and Early Head Start offer a range of services:

  • Education and early childhood development
  • Mental health
  • Nutrition
  • Dental
  • Health screening and follow up services
  • Family involvement services
  • Services for children with disabilities
  • Linking to community resources

There are 3 basic Head Start programs:

Head Start – Center-Based

  • Group setting on particular days and times with a qualified teaching staff
  • Family participation is encouraged and may include home visits
  • Serves eligible children turning 3 years of age before the first day of school

Head Start–Home-Based

  • Eligible children and families get Head Start services in their homes
  • Home-based teachers visit homes on a regular basis
  • Work with families on the overall goal of school readiness

Early Head Start

  • Early education both in and out of the home for children birth to 3 years old
  • Provides:
    • Parenting education
    • Nutrition education
    • Family support
    • Complete health and mental health services to women before, during and after pregnancy

NOTE:

  • Find a Head Start Near You
  • Further information about Head Start and Early Head Start
  • Current and former Early Head Start and Head Start parents must receive preference for employment vacancies for which they are qualified.
  • Staff qualifications are for New York City Head Start programs and are required by the NYC Department of Health and exceed Federal Head Start staff qualifications.
  • Contact individual Head Start location you are applying to for specific site position qualifications and requirements.
  • The Head Start program is managed by the Head Start Bureau, the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
  • All Head Start programs operating in New York City are licensed through NYCDOH.