Program spotlight: Early Head Start

Early Head Start is a program provided by the New Directions Early Head Start & Telamon Early Childhood Program. The main focus of this program is to shape a positive relationship between the parent or caregiver, and child through home-care and center-care services. The Early Head Start Program can help parents and caregivers create a healthy relationship with their child as well as encourage both child and family development. This relationship may be built within one of the four programs offered by Early Head Start: center-based services, home-based services, family child care services, or combination services.  To be eligible for these services a pregnant woman must meet the income requirements and apply before their child/children are 3 years old. Early Head Start also offers 10% of its slots to children with disabilities.

Results from both abled and disabled families have proven that the EHS Program improves children’s academic performance, including tests and attentiveness, family aggression levels, and emotional stability. Early Head Start also offers:

• Services to pregnant women
• Group socialization
• Developmental screening, ongoing observation and assessment
• Medical, dental, and mental health referrals
• Child development education
• Community collaborations to meet additional family needs

To learn more about Early Head Start click here.

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