Head Start FY2007
The Head Start program provides grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide comprehensive child development services to economically disadvantaged children and families, with a special focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills they need to be successful in school.

Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. They engage parents in their children's learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy, and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs.

The Head Start program is administered by the Office of Head Start; Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF); Administration for Children and Families (ACF); Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Source of definition: Office of Head Start:
   http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ohs/
Date of definition: December 2007

Note: View definitions of data parameters related to Head Start:

• number of sites
• funded enrollment
• grantees

Note: Additional information on Head Start can be found on the Administration for Children & Families Office of Head Start page.

Note: Children 3 to 5 years of age from low-income families are eligible, if:

• family income is below the Federal Poverty Level, or
• the family is eligible for public assistance, or in the absence of child care would potentially be eligible for public assistance.

From the Ounce of Prevention’s Birth to Five Program Inventory, June 2004, p.32.

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