What is Early Head Start?
Early Head Start provides early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development and family support services to low-income pregnant women, infants, toddlers and their families.
All Early Head Start programs serve families through a full day, full year program option that best meets the needs of their families. After conversations with families, this program provides options that can meet the needs of families. As infants and toddlers grow and change, and as family needs evolve, diverse program options can support them over time. This ensures that families can grow within a consistent, supportive setting. Program options for Early Head Start include the following:
- Center-Based services provide early learning, care and enrichment experiences to children in an early care and education setting. Staff members also visit family homes at least twice per year.
- Home-Based services are provided through weekly home visits to each enrolled child and family. The home visitor provides child-focused visits that promote a parent’s ability to support their child’s development. Twice per month, the program offers opportunities for parents and children to come together as a group for learning, discussion, and social activity
- Family Child Care services provide care and education to children in a private home or family-like setting.
- Combination services combine both home- and center-based services.
Use the Head Start Locator to find a Early Head Start program near you. For more information, please visit the Early Head Start website.
