Head Start

Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs that promote school readiness of children ages 0-5 from eligible families through education, health, social and other supports and services. In 1965, project Head Start was launched as an 8 week summer program serving 561,000 children as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s economic opportunity initiative.

Head Start takes a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of young childrenand their families. There are four pillars in every program:

  • Education: Learning experiences support intellectual, social, and emotional growth
  • Health Services: Immunizations, dental, medical, and mental health support,nutritional services, and early screenings ensure healthy development
  • Family Involvement: Opportunities for parents and caregivers to be involved indecision making, participate in classes, and volunteer in the program strengthen families
  • Wrap around Support: Tailored services meet local and individual needs and link children and families to community supports

Head Start is Heart Work: Office of Head Start Priorities

The Office of Head Start (OHS) continually works toward our mission for eligible children and families to receive high-quality services in safe and healthy settings to prepare children for school and life. OHS has five national priority areas to support this mission, described below. At the center of each is an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging. The five national priorities are:

  • Child Health and Safety; Reduce or eliminate children's risk of exposure to harm and hazards.
  • Partnerships with State Systems; Expand Head Start programs' capacity to coordinate services with state systems and national programs.
  • Reaching Children and Families; Ensuring that Head Start resources are targeted to children, families, and communities of greatest need.
  • Investing in the Workforce; Supporting a highly-skilled workforce with competitive pay, benefits, and access to supports for staff wellness.
  • Quality Environments; Strengthening the key components of infrastructure that assist Head Start programs with operating most effectively.

Head Start Affiliations

Head Start State Collaboration Office

Head Start Collaboration Offices (HSCOs) exist "to facilitate collaboration provide a structure to leverage their common interests around young children and their families to formulate, implement, and improve state and local policy and practices.” These partnerships are intended to:

  • Assist in building early childhood systems
  • Provide access to comprehensive services and support for all low-income children
  • Encourage widespread collaboration between Head Start and other appropriate programs, services, and initiatives
  • Augment Head Start's capacity to be a partner in state initiatives on behalf of children and their families
  • Facilitate the involvement of Head Start in state policies, plans, processes, and decisions affecting target populations and other low-income families are formalized

*For more information contact the Collaboration Office at (615) 741-4849

Reports