Head Start is a United States government program that provides educational, social, and health services to young children from the nation’s lowest-income families. The program also provides assistance for the children’s families. Head Start was founded on the idea that good early childhood experiences provide much of the foundation for school readiness and for later academic success and overall well-being. The program aims to offer children from poor families the same quality of experiences available to children from wealthier homes. Since its beginning, millions of children have been enrolled in Head Start.
Head Start began in 1965 as a summer project in President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. The project quickly expanded to run throughout the school year and serve nearly 1 million children annually. Head Start centers now operate in almost every county in all 50 states. Head Start is administered by the Office of Head Start, which is part of the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
There are more than 50,000 Head Start classrooms serving diverse groups of young children. Most children enrolled in Head Start are ages 3 and 4, but some younger children and some 5-year-olds also participate. Head Start centers reach out to recruit and enroll children from the community. Each center’s program is designed for the ethnic and cultural characteristics of its community. Children with disabilities are included in the program.
The most important areas of the Head Start program focus on education, health, family involvement, and social services. The educational aspect provides learning experiences designed to stimulate emotional, intellectual, physical, and social growth. Health services include immunizations and other medical, dental, and mental health care, as well as obtaining health insurance coverage for children. Another health service is a nutritional program, which offers healthy meals and snacks daily.
The families of children in the program play an important role in its operation. Staff members make home visits to help families identify their needs and strengths and to explain how learning can take place at home. Parents serve on policy councils and committees and are encouraged to work in the centers as volunteers. Through programs financed by Head Start, parents can qualify as classroom aides or teachers.
Head Start provides counseling and other social services as needed to children and their families. Additional services include referring families to other community resources and providing emergency assistance.
See also Children and Families, Administration for .
