Comprehensive Childhood Development
Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in life. And that learning process starts at an early age. The 4C Early Head Start program promotes school readiness and child development for eligible low-income families with children under 3 years old and pregnant moms, Early Head Start combines services such as education, early childhood development, health, nutrition, mental health, disability services, family support, and parental involvement with the goal of enhancing the child’s life and building a strong family unit. Through these services, Early Head Start empowers children with the confidence to excel in school and achieve self-sufficiency as adults.
Apply for Early Head Start
To access the preliminary application for our
Early Head Start program, click here,
or scan the QR code:
Contact Us
Orange County: Early Head Start (under 3), 407-532-4365.
Osceola County: Head Start and Early Head Start, 321-219-6201.
Seminole County: Head Start and Early Head Start, 407-332-5090 (Longwood).
Maternity Home Visiting Program
For pregnant women, the Maternal Home Visiting Program is the first step to enrolling your unborn baby into the 4C Early Head Start child care program. Bi-weekly, 60-minute home visits are provided to income eligible pregnant women and their families. Dedicated staff will deliver prenatal information and support while partnering with you to develop and reach goals that are important to you. After your baby is born, we assist with a smooth transition into our Early Head Start program. To learn more, click here.
Program Goals
The overall goal of Early Head Start is to bring about a greater degree of social competence in children of low-income families. The child’s entire family, as well as the community, is involved to create a quality program and assist the child with school readiness. Here are the four main components:
- Provide safe and developmentally enriching care which promotes the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers, as well as prepares them for growth and development.
- Support parents, both mothers, and fathers, in their role as primary caregivers and teachers of their children, and families in meeting personal goals and achieving self-sufficiency across a wide variety of domains.
- Mobilize communities to provide the resources and environment necessary to ensure a comprehensive, integrated array of services and support for families.
- Ensure the provision of high-quality responsive services to the family through the development of a trained and caring staff.
Head Start is a federally funded program for low-income children and children with disabilities, with an emphasis on cognitive, social, emotional, physical and mental development for the child. Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. (4C) is the approved non-federal entity that provides Head Start services for Osceola and Seminole counties, and Early Head Start in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.
EARLY HEAD START FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
