Head Start

Learn More About the NHA Head Start Program.
Click on one of the Sections below to learn more.

What is Head Start?

Head Start is a federally-funded child development program designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs. Head Start’s approach is that the parent is the child’s primary educator and that the entire family, as well as the community, must be involved in guiding and nurturing the child.

Over the past four decades, Head Start has touched the lives of more than 250,000 low-income preschool children and families at more than 140 locations in San Diego County. Neighborhood House Association currently holds 83 licenses to operate Head Start facilities.

Head Start History

Head Start was launched in 1965 as an eight-week summer program by the Office of Economic Opportunity in 1965. The blueprint for Project Head Start came from a panel of child development experts who were asked to draw up a program to help communities overcome the handicap of economically disadvantaged preschool children.

In 1965, Head Start was transferred to the Office of Child Development in the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare and is now a program within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families in the Department of Health and Human Services, and administered by the Office of Head Start (OHS).

Today, Head Start programs are operated by over 1,500 community-based organizations in all 50 states and U.S. territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Head Start Eligibility

The Head Start program is available for income eligible children birth to five years of age.
To be income eligible, a family of four must have an income of $22,050 a year or less.
Children with disabilities are fully-included (on a case-by-case basis)into the program and receive a full range of developmental services.
Proof of citizenship is not a requirement for enrollment in Head Start

About Early Head Start

Began in 1994, Early Head Start focuses on children six weeks to three years of age, as well as pregnant and post-partum, low-income women. Comprehensive servcies include partenting classes, individualized plans for children, and transition services for children moving on to preschool. Program options include:

Services to Pregnant Women – comprehensive services including weekly prenatal classes for pregnant women and their families as well as individualized postpartum home visits.
Home Based – comprehensive services for children from birth to 3 years of age including weekly home visits and two monthly group socializations.
Center Based – comprehensive services for children 18 months to 3 years of age in a center based setting full day, five days per week. The Full Day option available to families that meet requirements for employment and/or enrollment in a vocational/training program.
Family Child Care (FCC) – comprehensive services for children birth to 3 years of age in a licensed family child care home full day, five days per week. The FCC option is available to families that meet requirements for employment and/or enrollment in a vocational/training program

About Head Start

San Diego County Head Start has services that are center-based, home-based, part-day, extended day, full day, school year, and year-round. Our hours are designed to cater to the demands of students and working professionals. Services to Head Start Families Head Start provides services at no cost to families. Services include:

Early childhood education for children three to five years of age
Free dental exams and follow-up care
Training and workshops including first-time homebuyer seminars and budgeting classes
Services to pregnant women and their children, including prenatal and post-partum care, parenting classes, infant and toddler childcare, health, nutrition and social services.

Head Start program options include:

Home Based – comprehensive services for children from 3 to 5 years of age including individualized weekly home visits and two monthly group socializations.
Center Based Full Day (6 or more hours) and Part Day (3.5 hours daily) – comprehensive services for children 3 to 5 years of age in a center based setting full day, five days per week. The Full Day option is available to families that meet requirements for employment and/or enrollment in a vocational/training program.
Family Child Care (FCC) – comprehensive services for children 3 to 5 years of age in a licensed family child care home full day, five days per week. The FCC option is available to families that meet requirements for employment and/or enrollment in a vocational/training program.

Early Childhood Education

Each child receives an individualized educational program based on his/her strengths and needs. Children are provided with the opportunity to participate in large and small group activities, math, science, art, language, drama and cultural activities. Children leave Head Start prepared for Kindergarten, excited about learning, confident in their own abilities and ready to succeed. Children are assessed three times a year to make sure they are kinder-ready when they leave. The Head Start curriculum is specifically designed to develop the child’s:

Language and literacy skills
Problem solving skills
Socialization and interaction skills

School Readiness

NHA implements its governance, management systems, program services, and processes to support higher school readiness outcomes for NHA children. NHA’s school readiness goals serve as a basis for its organized system approach to advance school readiness as a unified agency.

The NHA School Readiness Goals are clearly articulated and aligned with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework, State of California learning foundations, and Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) 2010 measures, and Creative Curriculum.

Health, Nutrition, and Mental Health Services

All children need to be fully immunized to participate in Head Start. Head Start provides referral assistance for immunization. In addition, Head Start provides children with:

One-third of their daily nutritional requirements. All meals are served family style.
Timely immunizations and screenings for cognitive development, basic health, speech and language
Hearing, vision and dental screenings
Promoting preventive health services and early intervention. Each family is assured linkage to an ongoing health care system
Participation in experiences that promote positive mental health, improved self-esteem, stress management and personal growth.
Daily teeth-brushing and collaborates with dentists to provide oral exams

Nutrition Services Brochure

Head Start Menu

Menù: Programa de Head Start

Disabilities Services

Services for children with disabilities and their families are provided in coordination with local early intervention and education agencies, community organizations, support services and school districts. Head Start/Early Head Start staff work closely with families to assist in requesting services and resources for their children.

Parent Involvement

Head start joins in partnership with parents to contribute to the child’s development into a healthy, well-adjusted, productive adult. Head Start empowers parents to:

Be their child’s first teacher
Achieve skills in decision-making, group participation and leadership
Join the Head Start Policy Council and program advisory groups
Be employed by Head Start
Receive training and financial support for continued education

Head Start Successes

Thanks to NHA’s hard-working team, the organization has achieved the following results with the Head Start program in the last year:

For the second year in a row, achievement of 100 percent enrollment for Head Start participants within the first week of a new school year
Development and execution of PROMIS, the most technologically-advanced and effective enrollment, attendance and record-keeping system in the state. Today, NHA can access “real-time” reports and information never-before available to the program
Implementation of better financial management safeguards, including increased monitoring of delegate agencies that provide Head Start services on behalf of NHA, improved information sharing with delegate board of directors and appointment of a new Vice President/Chief Financial Officer.
Development and implementation of a new monitoring plan and data collection instruments to ensure staff accountability and performance.

Head Start Teachers

80% of NHA Head Start Teachers have an Early Childhood Education or related degree. At a minimum, all Head Start teachers are required to have an appropriate Child Development Teachers Permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Recruitment

Head Start reaches out to families who could benefit from its services by:

Visiting elementary schools in low income areas
Recruiting at community fairs and neighborhood events
Distributing flyers and door hangers in low income neighborhoods

How to Apply

Neighborhood House Association is currently taking applications for enrollment for income eligible families. Families interested in applying should call 1-888-873-5145 or email hsinfo@neighborhoodhouse.org.

Download the application checklist to see what is needed for enrollment appointment.