The Early Head Start (EHS) program provides an early, continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development program to children under the age of 3 and whose family's incomes are at or below the federal poverty line.

Early Head Start goals and focuses include:
 

• Promotion of children's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development and future growth and development for infants and toddlers
• Support parents and guardians to fulfill parental roles as primary caregivers and educators
• Help parents move toward self-sufficiency by strengthening community supports
• Increasing quality and capacity of child care programs for families who are in school/training, receiving Temporary Assistance (TA), at risk of child abuse or neglect, or have an incapacitated parent

Services to the families include:

• Comprehensive health and mental health services
• Home visits
• Services to improve healthy behavior such as smoking cessation and substance abuse treatment
• Coordinate programs providing services in accordance with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Provide Parent Education including parent-child activities and child development information
• Ongoing support through case management, peer support groups, adult education and basic literacy skills, job training, job placement services, assistance in obtaining support

How do I get help?

Use the Locate a Head Start Program tool found on the Federal Head Start home page.