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Early Head and Head Start Programs Program Description Early Head Start:A “no cost to family” comprehensive early education program for low-income pregnant women and infants and toddlers from ages birth to three, including young children with disabilities. Services may be provided in the home of the family (home-based), a licensed family child care home, and/or a center. In addition to comprehensive early education services, other services include providing and linking families with health, mental health, disability, nutrition and social services. Early Head Start has a strong parent involvement component and services specifically designed for pregnant women. Head Start:A “no cost to family” part-day (3½ hours) or full-day (six plus hours) comprehensive child development program for low-income preschoolers ages three to five years old. Head Start generally operates from September to June. Some Head Start programs offer full-day programs that operate from 10 to 12 months. Children in foster care, families at risk and/or in crisis, homeless families, and children with disabilities receive priority for enrollment. Additional selection criteria may be used to determine priority for services. Comprehensive services include providing and linking families with social services, health, mental health, disabilities, and nutrition services. Head Start also has a strong parent involvement component. Income Eligibility Families are eligible for Early Head Start and Head Start Preschool Programs if their families’ income is below the federal poverty level. Children in foster care, homeless or with families receiving public assistance are automatically eligible regardless of income. Early Head Start and Head Start Preschool Programs may serve families with incomes up to 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) if space is available and the needs of all other eligible children in the community are met. At least 10% of enrollment must include children with disabilities. Table 2 shows the yearly income caps at the federal poverty level and up to 130% of the FPL by the size of the family.
* Based on 2009 Federal Poverty Guidelines Head Start determines family eligibility based on their annual income; once the family is determined eligible, the child will be considered eligible through the end of the program year and the subsequent program year. Early Head Start and Head Start Preschool Program services are free. How to Connect There are ten Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) throughout Los Angeles County to provide families with referrals to child care and development programs, including referrals to Early Head Start and Head Start Programs. Families may call toll-free There are several organizations that operate Early Head Start and Head Start Programs throughout Los Angeles County. Families may call one of the Programs listed below directly to learn about openings in a program located near their home and whether their family is eligible to enroll or contact the Los Angeles County Office of Education at (877) Pre-K-Kid (773-5543) or visit http://www.PreKKid.org to be connected a program located in the family’s community. Searches for Early Head Start and Head Start Programs may also be done at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Administration for Children & Families Web site, Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/. Early Head Start Programs (birth to three years old) Baldwin Park Unified School District Center for Community and Family Services Children’s Institute, Inc. Community Development Institute (CDI) El Nido Family Centers Foothill Family Services Hope Street Family Center Human Services Association Kedren Community Health Center, Inc. Long Beach Unified School District Los Angeles County Office of Education Los Angeles Education Partnership Options-A Child Care and Human Services Agency Palmdale School District Office Plaza de la Raza Plaza de la Raza Pediatric Therapy Network Pomona Unified School District UCLA Early Head Start University of Southern California Venice Family Clinic Vista Del Mar and Family Services Volunteers of America
Westside Children’s Center Head Start Programs (three to five years old) Child Care Resource Center Community Development Institute Long Beach Unified School District Head Start Programs LACOE Head Start-State Preschool Options Head Start University of Southern California (USC) School for Early Childhood Education Office of Child Care
Service Integration Branch/Chief Executive Office 222 South Hill Street, 5th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213) 974-4103 Telephone • (213) 217-5106 Facsimile |
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