About Us
What is Head Start?
Mission
Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and
cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and
other services to enrolled children and families.
Program Description
The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to
provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and
families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they
need to be successful in school. In FY 1995, the Early Head Start program was established to serve
children from birth to three years of age in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years
matter a great deal to children's growth and development.
Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of
children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled
children and families. They engage parents in their children's learning and help them in making
progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on
the involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs.
Source: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/about/index.html#mission
Head Start is Early Childhood Education
Head Start provides children with developmentally appropriate activities that help them grow mentally,
socially, emotionally, and physically.
Head Start recognizes that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. They
welcome and encourage parent involvement.
Head Start is more than just Early Childhood Education, it is school readiness. Based on the Head
Start Performance Standards, all programs have as their goals for school readiness the Head Start
Child Outcomes Framework. This framework helps program assess their progress toward meeting
the school readiness needs of their Head Start children.
Head Start is Family Services
Head Start has a strong committment to Parent Involvement. We know that the best way to positively
impact a child is to engage and involve the parents and family in the process.
Head Start provides social and other services to enrolled families to help assist them toward greater
self sufficiency and assist them in developing and attaining their goals.
Head Start is Nutrition
School readiness involves ensuring children and families are well fed, both in terms of quantity and
quality. Therefore, Head Start Programs not only ensure children are fed nutritous meals during their
time with us, we also have a strong Nutrition Education focus for both children and their parents.
Head Start receive at least 1/3 to 1/2 (depending on the length of their program day) of their daily
nutritional needs. Likewise, children are exposed to new foods to increase the diversity of their
nutritional experiences.
Head Start is Health & Safety
School readiness also involves being physically ready learn. Therefore, all Head Start children are
screened for a variety of health concerns within the first 45-90 days of enrollment.
Through these screenings, potential health concerns are identified and necessary referrals to health
professionals are made. In addition, every program assists families in identifying a medical "home",
accessing preventative care and obtaining medical insurance.
Head Start is Mental Health and Disabilities
Mental Health and Wellness services are a very unique and important part of any Head Start program.
Programs strive to build a solid foundation of strong social skills and positive self-esteem for all
children, which will be useful not only in kindergarten, but later in life.
Head Start Programs make a special effort to ensure that children with special needs are able to
participate in all aspects of the program, in an inclusive classroom environment. Head Start Programs
reserves at least 10 % of its enrollment slots for children with disabilities and no child will be denied
enrollment because of a disability.
Head Start is Transportation
When possible, Head Start programs provide children with transportation to and from their centers.
Head Start Transportation Performance Standards mandate that children ride yellow school buses with
age and weight appropriate child safety restraint systems. In addition, children are escorted to and
from school by trained bus monitors.
What is the MHSA?
The Maryland Head Start Association is a link between local Head Start Programs and the National
Head Start Association in Alexandria, Virginia.
Mission
To be at the table whenever and wherever the issues of school readiness and the needs of
low-income children and families are being discussed and effected.
Mission
Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and
cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and
other services to enrolled children and families.
Program Description
The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to
provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and
families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they
need to be successful in school. In FY 1995, the Early Head Start program was established to serve
children from birth to three years of age in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years
matter a great deal to children's growth and development.
Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of
children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled
children and families. They engage parents in their children's learning and help them in making
progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on
the involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs.
Source: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/about/index.html#mission
Head Start is Early Childhood Education
Head Start provides children with developmentally appropriate activities that help them grow mentally,
socially, emotionally, and physically.
Head Start recognizes that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. They
welcome and encourage parent involvement.
Head Start is more than just Early Childhood Education, it is school readiness. Based on the Head
Start Performance Standards, all programs have as their goals for school readiness the Head Start
Child Outcomes Framework. This framework helps program assess their progress toward meeting
the school readiness needs of their Head Start children.
Head Start is Family Services
Head Start has a strong committment to Parent Involvement. We know that the best way to positively
impact a child is to engage and involve the parents and family in the process.
Head Start provides social and other services to enrolled families to help assist them toward greater
self sufficiency and assist them in developing and attaining their goals.
Head Start is Nutrition
School readiness involves ensuring children and families are well fed, both in terms of quantity and
quality. Therefore, Head Start Programs not only ensure children are fed nutritous meals during their
time with us, we also have a strong Nutrition Education focus for both children and their parents.
Head Start receive at least 1/3 to 1/2 (depending on the length of their program day) of their daily
nutritional needs. Likewise, children are exposed to new foods to increase the diversity of their
nutritional experiences.
Head Start is Health & Safety
School readiness also involves being physically ready learn. Therefore, all Head Start children are
screened for a variety of health concerns within the first 45-90 days of enrollment.
Through these screenings, potential health concerns are identified and necessary referrals to health
professionals are made. In addition, every program assists families in identifying a medical "home",
accessing preventative care and obtaining medical insurance.
Head Start is Mental Health and Disabilities
Mental Health and Wellness services are a very unique and important part of any Head Start program.
Programs strive to build a solid foundation of strong social skills and positive self-esteem for all
children, which will be useful not only in kindergarten, but later in life.
Head Start Programs make a special effort to ensure that children with special needs are able to
participate in all aspects of the program, in an inclusive classroom environment. Head Start Programs
reserves at least 10 % of its enrollment slots for children with disabilities and no child will be denied
enrollment because of a disability.
Head Start is Transportation
When possible, Head Start programs provide children with transportation to and from their centers.
Head Start Transportation Performance Standards mandate that children ride yellow school buses with
age and weight appropriate child safety restraint systems. In addition, children are escorted to and
from school by trained bus monitors.
What is the MHSA?
The Maryland Head Start Association is a link between local Head Start Programs and the National
Head Start Association in Alexandria, Virginia.
Mission
To be at the table whenever and wherever the issues of school readiness and the needs of
low-income children and families are being discussed and effected.
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