There are many elements of raising a child in the US for the first time that much of the population are not aware of until the time comes for them to bring life into the world.
There can be endless doctor’s opponents, school and nursery meetings and various check-ups to ensure that your child is developing in the right and expected way.
Providing all of these services for a child does not always come without a cost, though, which is why those with lower incomes need additional services to ensure that their child is not left behind.
That is where the Head Start and Early Head Start programs come in. They are designed to provide family, early childhood education, and early childhood development services to children ages zero to five and pregnant women from income-eligible families.
There should be no hierarchy when it comes to the development of young children regardless of social class. There is an online tool on the National Head Start Association website that allows parents to find the nearest Head Start or Early Head Start program to their home.
It is a requirement for parents to apply to a program within their community closest to where they live. The local program then provides the necessary forms and can answer questions that may be asked. They also provide information on which documents need to be brought on the first visit in order to make sure the sign-up can happen.
How many Head Start programs are there?
Over a million children are served by Head Start programs in the USA across 2,809 different programs. The scheme includes 225,000 staff and teachers with more than 20,000 classrooms across the country.
