Comprehensive Childhood Development
Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in life. That learning process starts at an early age. The 4C Head Start program promotes school readiness and child development for eligible low-income families with children from 3 to 5 years old. 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, Head Start empowers children with the confidence to excel in school and achieve self-sufficiency as adults.
Apply for Head Start
To access the preliminary application for our Head
Start/Early Head Start programs, click here,
or scan the QR code:
Contact Us
Orange County: Early Head Start (under 3), 407-532-4365. Head Start (ages 3-5), 407-836-6590 (Services through Orange County Gov.)
Osceola County: Head Start and Early Head Start, 321-219-6201.
Seminole County: Head Start and Early Head Start, 407-332-5090 (Longwood), 407-915-6510 (Sanford)
Program Goals
The overall goal of 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 of Head Start:
- Present a variety of learning experiences to help children grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally.
- Provide health services such as immunizations, dental, medical and mental health, as well as nutritional services and early identification of health problems.
- Involve parents in the planning and implementation of activities. Parents serve on policy council and committees that make administrative decisions, participate in classes and workshops on child development, and volunteer in the program.
- Provide outreach to families to determine what services they need.
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.
HEAD START FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
