Head Start and Early Head Start are free comprehensive child development programs serving children from birth to five years old, pregnant women and their families. Head Start and Early Head Start help all children succeed. Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities. Head Start has partnerships with some area school districts for UPK, universal prekindergarten.
We provide children with developmentally appropriate activities that help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. Head Start and Early Head Start staff recognize that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. We welcome parent involvement in program activities and we work as partners with parents to promote child progress.
We offer child focused programs with the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. Programs provide a range of individualized services in the areas of education & early childhood development; health & mental health; and nutrition & parent involvement.
- Activities designed to build social, language, thinking and motor development. Children can learn through what they like best – play.
- Literacy activities to promote school readiness.
- Head Start and Early Head Start staff refer families needing help to medical, social welfare, or employment specialists they know in the community, and will follow up to be sure you receive assistance.
- You can have a voice in the Head Start programs by serving on various committees. Parents’ experiences in Head Start have raised their own self-confidence and improved their ability to make decisions.
- A sense of belonging, other support services, and a chance to be involved in activities to help your whole family.
- Parent workshops on many subjects such as child rearing, job training, health and nutrition, and using free resources in our community.
- You can become a Head Start volunteer and learn more about child development. This experience may later qualify you for training which can help you find employment in the child care field.
- Center-based and combined option classrooms offer children bus rides to and from home.
- Services through a home-based setting, where staff teach parents how to provide learning experiences for their own children.
- The programs are designed primarily for children whose families falls within the federal low-income guidelines.
- Residents of Cattaraugus or Wyoming County.
- Families who are expecting a baby or have children between the ages of birth and five years old.
- Enrollment is open to all children regardless of race, sex, creed, color, national origin or disabling conditions.