Early Head Start
Early Head Start provides low-income families with comprehensive support for infants, toddlers and pregnant women. Through high-quality early education, health services and family resources, the program fosters healthy development and strengthens family well-being, building a strong foundation for lifelong success.
What is Early Head Start?
Early Head Start programs serve infants, toddlers and their families who have incomes below the federal poverty level. Early Head Start programs were established in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years matter a great deal to a child’s growth and development.
Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children’s growth in many areas such as language, literacy and social and emotional development. Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. These programs help build relationships with families that support family well-being and many other important areas.
How is Early Head Start Different from Traditional Head Start?
Early Head Start offers an individualized, responsive and inclusive curriculum designed to support your child’s unique developmental journey. Through nurturing relationships and engaging learning experiences, the program fosters cognitive, social-emotional and physical growth.
Services may include frequent developmental screenings, social-emotional support and comprehensive health and nutrition guidance to ensure children and families receive the resources they need for a strong start. This holistic approach helps your infant and toddler build skills in a safe, supportive environment.
What Ages Qualify for Early Head Start?
Early Head Start programs at Day Early Learning support families with children younger than the age of three years. Classes or groups may be structured by developmental stage such as individual classes for infants and older toddlers.
Why do the Early Years Matter?
Your child’s first three years of life are a period of rapid brain development, forming the foundation for future learning, behavior and health. During this critical time, early experiences shape cognitive, social-emotional and language skills that influence lifelong success.
Early Head Start capitalizes on this formative period by providing nurturing relationships, responsive learning environments and comprehensive support to help children reach key developmental milestones. By fostering early leaning and school readiness, the program ensures that infants and toddlers build a strong foundation for a bright future.
Experience the Day Early Learning Difference
At Day Early Learning, we provide more than just child care, we lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Our research-based curriculum, hands-on experiences and dedicated educators ensure that each child is actively engaged in their education journey, both in the classroom and through outdoor exploration. With a focus on individualized learning, social-emotional development and kindergarten readiness, we tailor lessons to meet each child’s unique needs. Families are valued partners in this journey, and through ongoing assessments and open communication, we ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive. Tap here to learn more about the DEL difference.
Who is Eligible for Early Head Start?
Early Head Start programs support families with children from birth to age three, as well as pregnant women and expectant families. Eligible participants include children whose families meet the federal low-income guidelines – that is, whose incomes are at or below the federal poverty guidelines or who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) public assistance services. Other eligible participants include children who are in the foster care system or experiencing homelessness. Programs may have other defined eligibility criteria based on their community assessment and need.
All Day Early Learning programs enroll children with disabilities and children who speak a language other than English at home.
Generally, there are more eligible children than what program funding supports. Each program maintains a waiting list according to their selection criteria for when a spot becomes available.
Application Process
To apply for Early Head Start at Day Early Learning, fill out the enrollment application. The Day Early Learning team will help determine whether your child qualifies and how to proceed to enroll your child.
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The Value of Early Head Start
Early Head Start provides high-quality care and education, ensuring infants and toddlers receive the support they need to thrive. With a focus on early development, family engagement and school readiness, the program sets the foundation for lifelong success. Some of the benefits include:
- High Quality Infant and Child Care: Small class sizes, safe learning environments and highly trained staff create a nurturing space where young children can grow and develop.
- Comprehensive Services: Early Head Start offers health and developmental screenings, nutrition support and family services to promote overall well-being.
- Long Term Advantages: Research shows that starting education early leads to better academic performance, stronger social skills and increased confidence – helping children build a strong foundation for the future
- Family Engagement and Support:Parents have access to workshops, decision-making opportunities and community resources, empowering families to play an active role in their child’s early education.
- School Readiness: Through a focus on early cognitive, emotional and social development, Early Head Start helps prepare children for future learning success.
What are the Next Steps?
You can begin the enrollment process with Day Early Learning here. You can also find contact information for each of our center on our locations page.
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This website is supported in part by Grant Number 05HP000622 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 Early Learning Indiana and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Head Start.