Print Version |
Head Start's mission is to help children from low-income families start school ready to learn. Head Start’s comprehensive programs and services incorporate all components of child development:
- early learning and literacy
- health
- disabilities services
- family and community partnerships.
The Head Start Program:
Project Head Start began in 1965 as an Office of Economic Opportunity program. It was designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing 4-year-old children from low-income families with a summer program to help prepare them for school.
Over the years, Head Start has grown to serve preschool children from birth to age 5, and their families, in urban and rural areas in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Territories. Specific programs focus on American Indian-Alaska Native children and children of Migrant and Seasonal workers. Head Start is a program within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (within ACF) in the Department of Health and Human Services. While well-established and successful, Head Start remains an innovative program that has had a strong impact on communities and early childhood programs across the country.
Head Start and Early Head Start serve children from birth to age 5, and expectant families. The program impacts:
- child development
- the expansion of state and local activities for children
- the range and quality of services offered to young children and their families
- program design and training for staff
- outreach and training activities to assist parents in parenting skills and knowledge of child development.
Services provided by Head Start:
Head Start’s comprehensive program meets legislatively defined objectives in:
- American Indian – Alaska Native Program Branch
- Disability Services
- Early Head Start
- Education
- Family and Community Partnerships
- Health
- Migrant and Seasonal Program Branch
- Parent involvement
- Social services.
American Indian – Alaska Native Program Branch of Head Start
The programs support cultural heritage and legacy. Programs are encouraged to integrate American Indian and Alaska Native languages and culture into their curriculum and program goals. The Head Start Bureau provides resources to four Tribal Governments to operate Parent Child Centers and to seven Tribal Governments to operate Early Childhood Centers that serve expectant families, infants, and toddlers (ages birth to three years). These programs offer a wide range of services to families living on the reservations.
Disabilities Services
Including children with disabilities is a required element of the Head Start program. This initiative is beneficial to all involved: children with and without disabilities, parents of children with and without disabilities, and staff members.
Early Head Start
Early Head Start provides services to low-income families with children from birth to age three and to expectant families.
EHS has a triple mission to:
- promote healthy prenatal outcomes
- enhance the development of infants and toddlers
- promote healthy family functioning.
Early intervention through high-quality programs enhances children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development; enables parents to be better caregivers and teachers of their children; and helps parents meet their own goals, including economic independence.
Education
Head Start's robust early learning and literacy program is designed to meet both the individual needs of each child and the ethnic and cultural characteristics of the community. Each child's interest in learning is fostered through various learning experiences:
- language development
- literacy
- mathematics
- science
- social studies
- creative arts.
Family and Community Partnerships
Parents and community members are involved in the operation, governance and evaluation of the Head Start program.
Health
Head Start recognizes the contribution good practices make to healthy child development. It provides a comprehensive health program that includes:
- establishing continuity of health and dental care
- scheduling regular check-ups, immunizations, and screenings
- helping families make arrangements for follow-up care as warranted
- adhering to and promoting nutritional best practices for snacks and meals
- practicing and encouraging safe and hygienic environments and behaviors
- supporting children’s social and emotional competence to thrive and learn.
Migrant and Seasonal Program Branch of Head Start
Services provided by the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs are identical to those of regular Head Start, but meet the specific needs of migrant and seasonal farm worker families. Programs have a unique emphasis on serving infants and toddlers as well as pre-school age children so that they will not have to be cared for in the fields or left in the care of very young siblings while parents are working. Infants as young as six weeks of age are served in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program centers.
Parent Involvement
An essential part of Head Start is the involvement of parents in program planning and operating activities. Many parents serve as members of policy councils and committees and have a voice in administrative and managerial decisions. In addition, parents are recognized as their child’s first and best teacher. Classes and workshops on child development and staff visits to the home enable parents to learn about the needs of their children and about educational activities that can take place at home.
Social Services
Specific services are geared to each family once its needs are determined. They include:
- Community outreach
- Referrals
- Family-need assessments
- Recruitment and enrollment of children
- Emergency assistance and/or crisis intervention.
Funding:
Grants to Head Start programs are awarded to local public or private not-for-profit or for-profit agencies. Faith-based agencies are eligible for grants. Federal funds cover 80 percent of a program’s total costs. The remaining 20 percent must be through volunteered community services, monetary donations or goods contributed. Head Start programs operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U. S. Territories.
Funding
— In 2004, $6,774,848,000 is available for Head Start grants.
For more information on budget, enrollment or demographic and program figures, click here.
Special Initiatives for Head Start
Head Start Bureau Current Head Start Initiatives
Find out how Head Start:
- Supports President Bush’s Early Childhood Initiative
- Involves fathers
- Ensures the quality of teachers
- Demonstrates accountability; etc.
What's New?
Find out about new publications and other current items of interest to Head Start programs.
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Head Start Bureau
330 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20201
Telephone: 202.205.8572
Fax: 202.205.9336
Visit Our Website
E-mail Us
Updated August 2004
Office of Public Affairs (OPA)
Other Head Start Fact Sheets
Head Start Fact Sheet 2 – Statistical Facts