WHat is head start?
Head Start is a child and family development program for income-eligible preschoolers and their families. Children receive a high-quality early education opportunity through participation in either our center-based preschool or our home-based option.
- All children receive a physical, dental, and numerous other health and developmental screenings to assure that the child is healthy and ready to learn.
- Center-based children attend school five days each week, except for Boone County.
- Some centers have transportation available to and from the child’s home.
- Home-based children receive 1 1/2 hour home visits in their home each week. These children come together two to three times each month for play groups and field trips.
Families are assisted in setting goals and are provided referrals to other social services to assist them in becoming more self-sufficient. Monthly family activities allow for time to spend together as a family and discuss issues and topics that affect parenting and family life.
In Montgomery County, Head Start has a CAP Kids Child Care classroom for preschool aged children. This program offers full-day/full-year child care services for ages 3-5.
Parent Resources
Call your local Head Start Center to schedule an appointment to complete an application. View our locations below for contact information.
DO I QUALIFY?
Family incomes must be at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. Children from homeless families and families receiving SNAP, TANF, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are also eligible. Foster children are eligible regardless of the foster family’s income.
Children must be three prior to August 1 to be eligible for Head Start. Children who turn five on or before August 1 are not eligible for Head Start, as they are eligible for a kindergarten program. The program accepts children with disabilities.
Head Start programs are offered through Community Action Program in the following Indiana counties: Benton, Boone, Fountain, Montgomery, Parke, Vermillion, and Warren. Recruitment for families is ongoing throughout the year. Applications can be completed at any time.
VERIFICATION PROCESS
Families will need to provide income verification for the prior 12 months or calendar year (W2, pay stubs, etc.), copies of the child’s official birth certificate, child’s immunization records, child’s Hoosier Healthwise number (if applicable) and guardianship or name change documentation (if applicable).
Applications are completed by a staff person by appointment. All children and families are given a rating based on our criteria checklist. Families with the highest scores (indicating the greatest need) are given priority for enrollment. Children are removed from the waiting list as openings become available throughout the program year.
Community & Partner Agency Referral Form
This website is supported by Grant Number 05CH012490 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 Community Action Program, Inc. of Western Indiana and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.