What is Head Start?
Head Start is a federal and state funded program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to 5 from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development.
Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children’s growth in:
- language & literacy
- cognition & general knowledge
- physical development & health
- social/emotional development
- approaches to learning.
Head Start programs provide comprehensive services to enrolled children and their families, which include health, nutrition, social, and other services determined to be necessary by family needs assessments, in addition to education and cognitive development services. Head Start services are designed to be responsive to each child and family’s ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.
Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. Head Start programs build relationships with families that support:
- family well-being and positive parent-child relationships
- families as learners and lifelong educators
- family engagement in transitions
- family connections to peers and community, and
- families as advocates and leaders.
Head Start programs are available at no cost to children ages birth to 5 from low-income families. Families and children experiencing homelessness, children in the foster care system and children with disabilities and other special needs are also eligible.
Please see Income guidelines below to see if you qualify. If you are over income please call, as we may be able to assist you.
| Family Size | Maximum Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,060 |
| 2 | $20,440 |
| 3 | $25,820 |
| 4 | $31,200 |
| 5 | $36,580 |
| 6 | $41,960 |
| 7 | $47,340 |
| 8 | $52,720 |
| Each additional person add: $5,380 |
Disclaimer: This website is supported by Grant Number 03CH012069 and 03CH011809 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Neither the Administration for Children and Families nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of Seton Hill Child Services, Inc and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.