About Head Start Programs

Our vision is to be the premier early education school in the United States!

Community Action Agency's Head Start is a federally-funded program that provides preschool education and ensures that both children and parents are prepared for kindergarten and for a life of learning.  However, Head Start promotes far more than a quality education.

Through either direct service or referrals, Head Start children also receive numerous health services ensuring good physical, dental, nutritional, and mental health.  Head Start is available at no cost to pregnant moms, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers up to age five from income-eligible families.  Services are offered to meet the special needs of children with disabilities.

What Are the Components of Head Start?

Head Start programs support children’s growth and development in a positive learning environment through a variety of services, which include:

Early learning: Children’s readiness for school and beyond is fostered through individualized learning experiences. Through relationships with adults, play, and planned and spontaneous instruction, children grow in many aspects of development. Children progress in social skills and emotional well-being, along with language and literacy learning, and concept development

Health: Each child’s perceptual, motor, and physical development is supported to permit them to fully explore and function in their environment. All children receive health and development screenings, nutritious meals, oral health and mental health support. Programs connect families with medical, dental, and mental health services to ensure that children are receiving the services they need.

Family well-being: Parents and families are supported in achieving their own goals, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security. Programs support and strengthen parent-child relationships and engage families around children’s learning and development.

SOURCE: Click here for more information about "The Head Start Model" from the National Head Start Association (NHSA) website.

Head Start Program Ongoing Goals:

1.) To bridge Head Start families to community groups through advocacy and empowerment.

2.) To continue improving math and literacy skills in the classroom.

3.) To continue secondary education and staff professional development with emphasis on credentials for teaching staff and family development assistants meeting requirements of Performance Standards.

4.) To improve and strengthen appropriate and timely follow-up on referrals and communication.

5.) To continue working with local dentists to improve dental awareness.

6.) To increase community awareness of Head Start's positive influence using communication tactics; including present and future economic impact.

7.) To improve quality, maintenance and safety of program vehicles.

8.) To strive for effective communication between the central office and the center staff.

9.) To strengthen and broaden services to grandparents rearing grandchildren.

Program Options

Offering diverse program options is critical as infants and toddlers grow and as family needs evolve. A choice of program options ensures that families can stay within a consistent, supportive setting that offers strong relationships and the same full range of developmentally-appropriate care and services. Program options for Head Start include:

Head Start: This program serves children ages 3-5 who are not eligible for kindergarten.

Early Head Start: This program serves pregnant women and infants and toddlers under 3 years of age.  

Home-based Head Start: This program offers a full range of Head Start services through weekly home visits to each enrolled child and family. The home visitor provides child-focused visits that promote the parents' ability to support their child's development. These visits last about an hour and a half each. About twice per month, the program offers opportunities for parents and children to come together as a group for learning, discussion, and social activity.This program is a great alternative to center-based preschool education. 

The Head Start home-based program (ages 3-5) is a 9 month program and the Early Head Start home-based program (birth-3 years of age) is a 12 month program. 

Convenient Locations & Class Schedules

Head Start is available in three formats (morning half-day, afternoon half-day, or full-day classes) at nearly 140 sites in Hamilton County.  CAA directly provides Head Start services at 6 locations and through partnerships with numerous other childcare centers in Hamilton County. Please use our Head Start center locator to find the location nearest you.

Special Requests

Request a copy of our 2019-2020 Annual Report