Head Start: Supporting Children, Families and Communities
Discover how Head Start changes the lives of children ages 0–5 and how you can take action to support this vital program.
What is the Head Start Program?
The Head Start program provides early education and comprehensive care for some of the country’s most vulnerable children, from birth through age 5. Its services include early childhood education, health and nutrition support, and parent, family and community engagement.
The program has a national reach, serving children and families across the United States. The Early Head Start program specifically supports infants and toddlers, giving the youngest children a strong start in their critical early years.
Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child's first teacher and assists families in achieving their goals for education, employment, and housing by providing links to other community services.
Head Start also supports families and expecting moms. As a federally funded program, Head Start provides no-cost comprehensive services to pregnant women and young children who meet income eligibility requirements, have identified disabilities, such as physical and developmental delays or are in foster care.
Head Start Awareness Month: Measuring the Program's Impact
An icon of a mother and child holding hands.
Head Start served over 800,000 children and pregnant women during the 2023–2024 program year.
Save the Children Head Start programs successfully helped the vast majority of our four-year old students meet developmental expectations.
For every $1 invested in Head Start, taxpayers see up to a $9 return from the long-term educational, health, economic and social impacts.
How are Save the Children and Head Start Connected?
Save the Children has led Head Start programs since 2011, providing Head Start children and their families with extensive services. We operate Head Start programs in 6 states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Northern Indiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Our Head Start Programs also:
- Focus on communities that have struggled to maintain Head Start programs and retain quality staff
- Hire the most qualified teachers and provide intensive training and professional development
- Refurbish classrooms and playgrounds, transforming them into safe, fun, welcoming environments
- Equip teachers with proven curricula to nurture young minds
- Through home-based Early Head Start programs, we reach pregnant moms, infants, and toddlers
- Help families identify and access essential resources
9-year-old Jaxson, left, with his younger brother Jonathan, 7, outside of their elementary school in Mississippi.
Head Start is one of the ways we help children Learn without Limits.
5 More Things to Know About Head Start This Awareness Month
Why is early education important?
Early education is a game-changer for kids. By the time a child turns 6, 90% of their brain development has already taken place. Children facing poverty, homelessness, and other vulnerable situations often miss out on early education.
Programs like Head Start can have a profound, positive impact, shaping a child's future.
Children who participate in Head Start are more likely to finish high school, attend college, and graduate. Additionally, those who attend high-quality childcare programs such as Head Start do better in school, earn more as adults, contribute more in taxes, and strengthen the economy overall.
How many children do Head Start programs serve?
Head Start programs serves nearly 805,919 children from low-income backgrounds.
When is Head Start Awareness Month?
October is Head Start Awareness Month, and it hopes to bring awareness to this critical program that benefits millions of families and children in the United States.
Why is Head Start important to rural communities?
In rural communities, Head Start is often the only reliable source of child care – providing early learning as well as nutritious meals and medical, dental and mental health services to children and families.
How can I apply for Head Start for my child?
This Head Start Awareness Month, Join Us: Protect Head Start Funding
Head Start helps children and families in the U.S. by connecting them with early learning, nutrition, health care, and support services. Today, rising costs and funding uncertainty are putting these life-changing programs at risk. Join Save the Children's political advocacy arm — Save the Children Action Network — and send an URGENT message to Congress: Protect Head Start funding.
Arkansas Head Start
Currently funded to serve 188 Head Start & Early Head Start children and families in Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, Drew, St. Francis & Woodruff Counties.
Eastern Arkansas Administration Office
224 N Rosser Street
Forrest City, AR 72335
(870) 494-4010
Southeast Arkansas Administration Office
447 West Gaines Street
Monticello, AR 71655
(870) 224-8017
Louisiana Head Start
Currently funded to serve 1,296 Head Start and Early Head Start children, families, and expectant mothers in Jefferson Davis, Evangeline, St. Landry and Rapides Parishes.
Jefferson Davis, Evangeline and St. Landry Parish Administration Office
8736 Highway 182 North
Opelousas, LA 70570
Phone (337) 467-7434
Rapides Parish Administration Office
3600 Jackson Street, STE 150
Alexandria, LA 71303
(318) 951-1639
North Carolina Head Start
Save the Children Head Start currently leads Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Cabarrus, Montgomery, Moore and Stanly Counties, funded to serve 418 children and families.
Cabarrus County Administration Office
402 Penny Lane
Concord, NC 28025
(980) 777-1462
South Piedmont Administration Office
404-A N. Main Street
Troy, NC 27371
(910) 606-4042
Northeastern Indiana Head Start
Save the Children Head Start currently leads Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Blackford, Jay, Randolph, and Wells Counties, currently funded to serve 98 children and families.
Northeast Indiana Administration Office
304 Blaine Pike
Portland, IN 47371
(206) 726-5789
Oklahoma Head Start
Save the Children Head Start currently leads Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Le Flore County, funded to serve 130 children and families.
Oklahoma Administrative Office
1201 Central Street
Poteau, OK 74953
(479) 357-6919
Tennessee Head Start
Save the Children Head Start currently leads Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Crockett, Dyer, Fayette, Lauderdale and Tipton Counties, funded to serve 324 children and families.
Tennessee Administrative Office
142 Nelson Street
Ripley, TN 38063
(731) 251-6397
This website is supported by Grant Numbers 06CH013526, 06CH012066, 05CH013062, 06CH013337, 06CH012235, 06CH012203, 06CH011994, 04CH013161, 04CH012619, 06CH012067 and 04CH013582 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 SCUS Head Start Programs, Inc. or Save the Children Federation and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.