Head Start: Early Education and So Much More!
Learn more about Head Start, including why it matters and how you can help support it.
What is Head Start?
Head Start provides early education and comprehensive care for some of the country’s most vulnerable children, during the most crucial stage—ages 0 to 5. Head Start services include early childhood education, health, nutrition as well as parent, family and community engagement.
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.
The TODAY Show recently featured Jennifer Garner, Save the Children Trustee and Ambassador, visiting lawmakers on Capitol Hill and one of our Head Start classes in North Carolina.
Kids across the nation rely on Head Start as a lifeline for healthy meals, medical care, and a safe place to learn and grow.
Join Jennifer Garner and Take action with the Save the Children Action Network and ask Congress to step up and invest in Head Start today.
The Impact of Head Start
An icon of a mother and child holding hands.
Head Start served nearly 800,000 children and pregnant women—and 723,000 families—during the 2022-23 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 lead 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
6 More Things to Know About Head Start
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 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 800,000 children from low-income backgrounds.
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 speak up to protect Head Start?
By joining our sister network, Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), you can send a message to your members of Congress asking they invest in Head Start — not only for the children who rely on it today, but for the ones who need its vital support tomorrow.
Take action today and tell Congress to invest in Head Start!
How can I apply for Head Start for my child?
To learn more about applying for one of our Head Start programs for your child or family please visit our Head Start Program: How to Apply page.
Arkansas Head Start
Currently funded to serve 192 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 1,091 Head Start and Early Head Start children, families, and expectant mothers in Jefferson Davis, Evangeline, Natchitoches, DeSoto, Red River, and St. Landry Parishes.
Jefferson Davis, Evangeline and St. Landry Parish Administration Office
8736 Highway 182 North
Opelousas, LA 70570
Phone (337) 467-7434
Red River Parish Administration Office
319 North Street
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457
(318) 357-2213
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 461 children and families.
Cabarrus County Administration Office
402 Penny Lane
Concord, North Carolina 28025
(980) 777-1462
South Piedmont Administration Office
404-A N. Main Street
Troy, North Carolina 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, Indiana 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
706 N Pocola Blvd.
Pocola, Oklahoma 74902
(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
(662) 452-5098
Head Start Annual Reports
Arkansas | Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana | Cabarrus County, North Carolina | Red River Region, Louisiana | South Piedmont, North Carolina
This website is supported by Grant Numbers 06CH011960, 06CH012066, 06CH012203, 06CH011994, 06CH011962, 06CH012235, 04CH012619, 04CH012118, 06CH012067, 04CH012003, and 05CH012822 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.